Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. AZ Alkmaar – prediction, team news, lineups

Sporty Bilbao will host their first European game in over six years in San Mames AZ Alkmaar Travel to the Basque Country Europa League on Thursday.

An impressive draw away from home in the Italian capital got Athletic’s season off to a good start, while AZ were victorious on matchday one.

Game preview

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Bilbao will feel they are back where they belong after such a surprisingly long absence from continental football, considering they qualified seven times in nine years between 2009 and 2018.

Ensuring European football came to San Mames was believed to be a crucial factor Nico Williams He will remain loyal to the club over the summer as the local would like to represent his club on the continent.

Aitor ParedesHis late goal at the Stadio Olimpico secured Athletic a point on Matchday 1 away to Roma in what could have been seen as their most difficult game of the league stage.

Ernesto ValverdeÅs’ men have to go to Turkey twice, but they will fancy their chances in all four home games, namely against AZ, Slavia Prague, Elfsborg and Viktoria Plzen.

At the weekend, Athletic once again drew 1-1, albeit in the opposite circumstances to the game against Roma, with Sevilla picking up a point in stoppage time, meaning Valverde had to send his side out The best four in La Liga despite having won four of their last five league games before the game.

Despite the points dropped, AZ will be trembling heading into San Mames knowing the form Athletic have been showing at home, with their loss to Atlético Madrid here at the end of August being their only defeat on home soil since Matchday 1 last season , back then against Real Madrid.

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The Dutch are also going into this encounter slightly weakened after their unbeaten start to the season at the weekend.

Maarten MartensThe Amsterdam side had taken 19 points from a possible 21 in the league but were beaten 2-1 at home by Utrecht, giving PSV Eindhoven the chance to pull further ahead Top of the Eredivisie.

At least they got off to a successful start in this competition, coming from behind to beat Elfsborg 3-2 Troy Parrott He then scored the winner from the penalty spot Ruben van Bommel got braces.

However, this was only AZ’s third Europa League win in 11 games and their away form in Europe is a concern as they have lost five times in a row away from home and in their last three trips to Spain.

While a repeat of their 1981 heroics, when the Alkmaar club reached the final, is unlikely, a repeat of a similar journey en route to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2023 would be welcome.

Athletic Bilbao Europa League form:

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

AZ Alkmaar Europa League form:

Form of AZ Alkmaar (all competitions):

Team news

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Spanish national goalkeeper for Athletic Unai Simon remains out with a wrist injury and is not expected to return until after the upcoming break.

This can be a problem domestically as a backup keeper Julen Agirrezabala was sent off at the weekend but will be available again here before serving a La Liga ban.

YesHe will have to take a break due to his thigh injury Oihan Sancet missing in front, while the experienced Other Herrera currently also has a muscle problem.

AZ’s Bruno Martins Indi was injured and suspended in the opening game against Elfsborg, but returned at the weekend and will start here again.

After a four-goal salvo against Heerenveen recently, former Tottenham Hotspur man Parrott has scored in back-to-back games against Elfsborg and Utrecht and looks set to take the lead again.

Wouter leaves As a backup goalkeeper, he is not yet ready to return from injury Sem Westerveld is currently out due to knee problems.

Possible Athletic Bilbao starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta, Unai Gomez; I Williams, Guruzeta, N Williams

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Martins Indi, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Parrott, Van Bommel

We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

Athletic rarely fumble at home and after an impressive result against Roma they could be very competitive in the Europa League this season.

AZ got off to an excellent start, picking up three points on home soil last midweek, but Elfsborg caused them plenty of problems and they were beaten by Utrecht at the weekend, making them big underdogs here.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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