Preview of Crystal Palace at AZ Alkmaar
Crystal Palace are hoping to banish the memory of their last Conference League match when they host AZ Alkmaar tomorrow night.
Having started their first European campaign proper with a victory against Dynamo kyiv, Palace were expected to steamroll Cypriot side AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park. But they came up short, losing 1-0, and a win against AZ is now more important if they want to finish in the top eight.
Boss Oliver Glasner said of his team’s Dutch opponents: “There is never a need to win. Yes, we want to win, we will do everything to win the game, but Alkmaar are a very experienced team in European football. Maybe not for their age. [of the club] but they still qualify for European football.
“Two years ago they played Aston Villa in the group stage. Three years ago they played in the Conference League semi-final and lost to West Ham – two very close games, losing 1-0 and 2-1. In both games [against West Ham] they had more possession and showed good finishing.
“They are a very good team, one of the four best teams in the Netherlands: Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Alkmaar.”
AZ also won one, lost one, with their loss also coming against AEK.
“I watched their last match against Sparta Rotterdam,” added Glasner. “Yes, they won 1-0 but they could have been three or four to nil up at half-time.
“It shows how good they are. We’ll have to play at our highest level to get this win. It would make winning a little bit easier for the next three games, but it’s really about taking it step by step, game by game and making sure we put in our best performance tomorrow.”
Moroccan defender Chadi Riad will be included in the squad tomorrow but will not play as he moves closer to a return after 11 months out with a knee injury.
Glasner said: “This is the best news: Yesterday he was cleared to train with the team, and he had the session yesterday and today.
“He will be in the matchday squad tomorrow. We have a place [in the squad] free. I spoke to him, and it’s just wearing the shirt and seeing the atmosphere at Selhurst.
“He won’t have minutes, to be honest, but now it’s about building him step by step, training with him and playing a few minutes with the under-21s to get back into the rhythm of the game.
“It is important that he takes it step by step and he will get all the support.”
AZ have won their last five games in all competitions and their man to watch is teenage midfielder Kees Smit, who is said to be on Real Madrid’s radar.
Team news for Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar
Adam Wharton trained after missing the weekend’s win over Brentford, but is expected to start on the bench. Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucouré and Rio Cardines are injured.
AZ is without Seiya Maikuma, Mexx Meerdink and Jordy Clasie.
Predicted line-ups for Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Munoz, Hughes, Kamada, Sosa; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
AZ Alkmaar: Owuso-Oduro; Kasius, Goes, Dekker, De Wit; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Smit; Patati, Parrott, Jensen
How to watch Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar: TV and online stream
Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar kicks off tomorrow evening at 8pm UK time. You can watch it on TNT Sports and stream it through the Discovery+ app.
Statistics for Crystal Palace v AZ Alkmaar
- Crystal Palace have won 10 and drawn six of their 19 home games in 2025
- AZ have won only two of their last 14 European away matches
