AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar Donetsk Tips & Preview – Hosts face daunting task

Tolu Shotade

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Last updated: Tue 14 Apr 2026 17:46

Tolu Shotade 3 hours ago

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AZ Alkmaar must overcome a 3-0 first-leg deficit to advance.
AZ have an impressive unbeaten 15-match home record in Europe.
Shakhtar won the first leg and are unbeaten away in Europe this season.

AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar Donetsk

AZ Alkmaar will be looking to pull off one of the great European comebacks as they host Shakhtar Donetsk at the AFAS Stadion in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final.

The visitors take a commanding 3-0 lead into the Netherlands and are aiming for a place in the semi-finals. However, AZ’s strong home form could make this an open and entertaining contest.

AZ Alkmaar News

AZ Alkmaar returned to winning ways last weekend following their first-leg disappointment, securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Heerenveen in the Eredivisie.

Lee-Roy Echteld’s side have experienced mixed form recently, recording six wins and four defeats in their last 10 matches. They have shown attacking quality, scoring in seven of those games, while also keeping four clean sheets during that run. However, history is not on their side, as AZ have lost both previous European ties in which they were beaten by three or more goals in the first leg.

Their European home record is even more impressive, going unbeaten in their last 15 matches, with 13 victories in that run. While only five of those wins have come by a margin of three or more goals, which would be required to force extra time, their attacking approach suggests they will go for it. AZ’s games are often high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals recorded in eight of their last 10 home matches.

Shakhtar Donetsk News

Shakhtar Donetsk produced a late surge in the first leg, scoring all three goals after the 70th minute to take full control of the tie. They followed that performance with a 2-2 draw away at LNZ Cherkasy in the Ukrainian Premier League on Monday.

The Miners have been in strong form, losing just once in their last 10 matches. They claimed eight wins in that run, as they target a first European semi-final since 2019/20. Shakhtar have scored in each of their last 10 matches, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last two away games. They head into this clash with confidence, having progressed from all eight previous European ties in which they won the first leg by at least three goals.

Arda Turan’s men have been impressive on the road, going unbeaten in their last four away matches with three wins. Their European away form has been even stronger, remaining unbeaten in all eight matches this season, including five consecutive wins in the Conference League. Shakhtar’s matches have also been entertaining, with over 2.5 goals recorded in six of their last 10 away games.

Head to Head

AZ Alkmaar hold a slight edge in recent meetings, winning two of the last three competitive encounters between the sides. However, their only defeat in that run came in the first leg, where Shakhtar Donetsk secured a dominant 3-0 victory.

Verdict

AZ v Shakhtar Donetsk

AZ Alkmaar are unbeaten in their last 15 home matches in Europe, winning 13 of those. They could extend that strong record by winning either half at the AFAS Stadion.

Shakhtar have scored in each of their last 10 matches, meaning Both Teams to Score is an appealing option. At least three goals have been scored in eight of AZ’s last 10 home games and six of Shakhtar’s last 10 travels, making over 2.5 goals a solid pick.

AZ Alkmaar

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