AZ Alkmaar vs Noah Yerevan: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 26 February 2026
The second leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League play-off round will take place on Thursday in Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion, where AZ will host Noah Yerevan. The first match in Armenia ended in a sensational victory for the hosts, leaving the Dutch side with the task of overturning the deficit on home turf. Here’s my take on the best bet for this encounter.
Match preview
The defeat in Yerevan was a cold shower for Lee-Roy Echteld’s team, who had recently stabilized their Eredivisie campaign and edged closer to the European qualification spots. However, the response was immediate: against Sparta Rotterdam, AZ unexpectedly switched to a 5-3-2 formation and secured a convincing 3-1 win. It was a tactical statement – the coach is ready to search for solutions, and the team is capable of adapting.
There’s more good news with the return of Kees Smit, who came off the bench to score, and the gradual recovery of Meijnans. Yes, Wouter Goes is suspended and both Clasie and Casis are still sidelined, but the injury list is thinning out. At home, AZ are rock-solid: just two defeats in their last 20 home games, both against top-tier sides like PSV and NEC. AZ should be expected to handle an opponent of Noah’s caliber without much trouble.
The Armenian club has already rewritten history, reaching the knockout stage of European competition for the first time ever. Victories over Rijeka and Legia in earlier rounds, draws away against Universitatea and Aberdeen, and then the shock win over AZ – all make Noah’s campaign remarkable. However, this European run has come at the expense of their domestic league form, where they’ve fallen well behind the leaders.
Heading to the Netherlands, Noah are dealing with new selection issues: Santini and Sangare are doubtful, while Gregoriou and Akopyan are injured. Goalkeeper Aleksei Ploshadny was superb in the first match, but the pressure in Alkmaar will be on another level. On the road in the main stage, Noah rarely win, and AZ are a step above all their previous opponents.
Probable lineups
- AZ Alkmaar: Zoet; Van Doijl, Ichihara, Penetra, Chavez, Dijkstra; Koopmeiners, Smit, Meijnans; Parrott, Hornkamp.
- Noah Yerevan: Ploshadny; Muradyan, Silva, Zolotic, Ambartsumyan, Suaele; Eteki, Oshima; Jose Ferreira, Jakolis; Mulahusejnovic.
Key facts and head-to-head
- The first leg in Yerevan ended with a Noah victory – one of the biggest shocks of the round.
- AZ have lost just two of their last 20 home matches in all competitions.
- Noah have managed just one away win outside qualification rounds in each of their last two European campaigns.
Prediction
AZ suffered a painful but timely lesson in Yerevan and approach the return leg with tactical adjustments and key players returning. At home, Alkmaar play with much more confidence and aggression, while Noah travel with squad issues and a modest away record. I expect the hosts' quality to make the difference.
