After their shock win over Athletic Bilbao in the last round of games, AZ Alkmaar will look for another Europa League victory on home soil when they host Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
AZ were excellent in their 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao three weeks ago, which put them right back into Group L after the opening defeat to Partizan Belgrade, but that result could prove meaningless should they lose on Thursday to Augsburg.
The German side are currently struggling in Europe and in the Bundesliga, with Augbsurg sitting bottom in both tables, but AZ coach John van den Brom is taking nothing for granted.
Van den Brom told his press conference, “They are currently struggling in the league, but we know what they can do, because we have often seen them at work. Both in the stadium and on television.”
AZ also haven’t had the best start to the season domestically, with the 1-1 draw at Cambuur at the weekend leaving them currently sitting 10th after nine rounds.
Team News
Van den Brom has promised AZ fans to play his strongest possible eleven for the game, but new signing Mounir El Hamdaoui is not available, while winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is also set to miss out.
Possible AZ line-up: Coutinho, Johansson, Haps, Van der Linden, Gouweleeuw, Henriksen, Rienstra, Ortiz, Tankovic, Van Overeem, Janssen
Dutchman Paul Verhaegh will captain Augsburg on Thursday evening, but his side will likely be without Raul Bobadilla who has muscular issues, while Jeong-Ho Hong has traveled to Netherlands, but is a doubt. Ex-PSV striker Tim Matavz could feature in the game.
Possible Augsburg line-up: Hitz, Verhaegh, Max, Klavan, Calssen-Bracker, Baier, Kohr, Altintop, Werner, Asswein, Caiuby
Head to Head
The two teams are meeting for the first time in Europe, but AZ have faced German opposition on six occasions and remain unbeaten at home in two of those ties.
Augsburg have never officially faced Dutch opposition.
Odds
AZ: 19/10 Draw: 13/5 Augburg: 6/4
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
