AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar: match preview
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Shakhtar to face AZ Alkmaar away in the return leg of the UEFA Conference League quarter-final tie
April 16, Alkmaar, AZ Stadion, 19:45
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
Match build-up
The first match, played a week ago in Poland, ended in a confident victory for Shakhtar (3-0). The Miners then moved from Kraków to Cherkasy, where on Monday they played an important UPL match against their main rivals in the title race – LNZ (2-2). Immediately after the game, the team set off on one of their longest journeys of the season along the route Cherkasy – Lviv – Rzeszów – Amsterdam (approximately 2,000 km), arriving in the Dutch capital late on Tuesday evening.
In addition to a demanding schedule and complex logistics, the Orange-and-Blacks also face personnel issues: Dmytro Kryskiv, Marlon Gomes and Isaque missed the last match due to injury, while the participation of Eguinaldo, who suffered a shoulder injury, remains in doubt. On the other hand, Nigerian winger Prosper Obah has recovered, and Shakhtar’s most productive players this season are fully ready for the crucial match: Kaua Elias (11 goals and 5 assists), Luca Meirelles (9 goals and 1 assist) and Pedrinho (8 goals and 9 assists).
Opponents
AZ Alkmaar, after losing to Shakhtar, bounced back in the domestic league at the weekend – on Sunday, the Red-and-Whites thrashed Heerenveen at home in the Eredivisie (3-0). In that match, the team’s top scorers made their mark: Irish striker Troy Parrott scored his 35th goal of the season (29 goals and 10 assists for AZ Alkmaar), while midfielder Sven Mijnans netted a brace (19 goals and 8 assists). It is interesting that the Alkmaar side have now gone 14 consecutive matches in all competitions without a draw (9 wins and 5 defeats). As for injuries, the situation in Lee-Roy Echteld’s squad remains unchanged: defender Denso Kasius, midfielder Peer Koopmeiners and forward Jizz Hornkamp are still sidelined.
AZ Alkmaar host their opponents at the AZ Stadion (also known as AFAS Stadion). The stadium was built in 2006 and, after its latest renovation, has a capacity of 19,500. This season, Alkmaar have played 25 home matches, recording 16 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses.
Match background and the first game
Shakhtar and AZ Alkmaar have met three times in official competitions: 1 win for the Miners, 2 wins for the Alkmaar side (goal difference 5-5).
On April 9, the teams played the first UEFA Conference League quarter-final at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Kraków. One half was evenly contested, but ended goalless. After the break, the Pitmen took control, created several dangerous chances, and in the 72nd minute, Pedrinho opened the scoring with a fantastic shot into the top corner. Soon after, Arda Turan’s side not only built on their lead but gave the score a lopsided look: Brazilian winger Alisson scored twice in the 81st and 83rd minutes. 3-0 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
The AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a German refereeing team: referee – Sven Jablonski, assistant referees – Eduard Beitinger, Lasse Koslowski, VAR – Benjamin Brand.
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
Match build-up
The first match, played a week ago in Poland, ended in a confident victory for Shakhtar (3-0). The Miners then moved from Kraków to Cherkasy, where on Monday they played an important UPL match against their main rivals in the title race – LNZ (2-2). Immediately after the game, the team set off on one of their longest journeys of the season along the route Cherkasy – Lviv – Rzeszów – Amsterdam (approximately 2,000 km), arriving in the Dutch capital late on Tuesday evening.
In addition to a demanding schedule and complex logistics, the Orange-and-Blacks also face personnel issues: Dmytro Kryskiv, Marlon Gomes and Isaque missed the last match due to injury, while the participation of Eguinaldo, who suffered a shoulder injury, remains in doubt. On the other hand, Nigerian winger Prosper Obah has recovered, and Shakhtar’s most productive players this season are fully ready for the crucial match: Kaua Elias (11 goals and 5 assists), Luca Meirelles (9 goals and 1 assist) and Pedrinho (8 goals and 9 assists).
Opponents
AZ Alkmaar, after losing to Shakhtar, bounced back in the domestic league at the weekend – on Sunday, the Red-and-Whites thrashed Heerenveen at home in the Eredivisie (3-0). In that match, the team’s top scorers made their mark: Irish striker Troy Parrott scored his 35th goal of the season (29 goals and 10 assists for AZ Alkmaar), while midfielder Sven Mijnans netted a brace (19 goals and 8 assists). It is interesting that the Alkmaar side have now gone 14 consecutive matches in all competitions without a draw (9 wins and 5 defeats). As for injuries, the situation in Lee-Roy Echteld’s squad remains unchanged: defender Denso Kasius, midfielder Peer Koopmeiners and forward Jizz Hornkamp are still sidelined.
AZ Alkmaar host their opponents at the AZ Stadion (also known as AFAS Stadion). The stadium was built in 2006 and, after its latest renovation, has a capacity of 19,500. This season, Alkmaar have played 25 home matches, recording 16 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses.
Match background and the first game
Shakhtar and AZ Alkmaar have met three times in official competitions: 1 win for the Miners, 2 wins for the Alkmaar side (goal difference 5-5).
On April 9, the teams played the first UEFA Conference League quarter-final at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Kraków. One half was evenly contested, but ended goalless. After the break, the Pitmen took control, created several dangerous chances, and in the 72nd minute, Pedrinho opened the scoring with a fantastic shot into the top corner. Soon after, Arda Turan’s side not only built on their lead but gave the score a lopsided look: Brazilian winger Alisson scored twice in the 81st and 83rd minutes. 3-0 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
The AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a German refereeing team: referee – Sven Jablonski, assistant referees – Eduard Beitinger, Lasse Koslowski, VAR – Benjamin Brand.