Conference League Playoff Matchup
In a pivotal Europa Conference League playoff tie scheduled for April 2026, Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk will take on Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. The first leg is set for April 9, 2026, at 10:00 PM Kyiv time at the Municipal Stadium in Krakow, with the return leg to follow on April 16, 2026. This matchup is a key hurdle for both clubs in their quest for European success.
AZ Alkmaar's History and Profile
Founded in 1967, AZ Alkmaar currently holds 35th place in the UEFA club rankings. The club boasts a strong domestic record, having won the Dutch Eredivisie twice and the KNVB Cup on four occasions. They also secured the Dutch Super Cup in 2009. Their greatest European achievement was reaching the final of the 1980/81 UEFA Cup. The team plays its home matches at the AFAS Stadium, which has a capacity of 19,478 spectators.
Head coach Leroy Echteld, born in 1967, began his coaching career in 2007. He first joined AZ's staff in the 2014/15 season and returned to the club in January 2024. Since January 2026, Echteld has served as the interim head coach of the first team. The squad's captain is Jordy Clasie.
In the summer of 2025, AZ spent €19.45 million on transfers. Their most expensive signing was forward Wesley Patati, acquired for €7.3 million. Other notable purchases included:
- Winger Isak Jensen for €4 million;
- Defender Mateo Chávez for €2 million.
In the winter of 2026, the club invested at least an additional €9.5 million, including €4.5 million for forward Yizza Hornkamp.
During the 2025/26 season, left-back Mees de Wit contributed five goals and 12 assists, while midfielder Sven Mijnans scored 17 goals and provided eight assists. Forward Troy Parrott netted 14 league goals and 28 across all competitions, along with making 10 assists.
In the Eredivisie, AZ had slipped to seventh place by early February 2026. Their Conference League qualifying campaign saw an initial 3-4 loss to Finnish club Ilves, followed by a 5-0 home victory. In the main round, they suffered a 0-4 defeat to AEK Larnaca. In the preliminary playoff round, AZ lost 0-1 to Noah but won 4-0 at home, and subsequently defeated Prague's Sparta 2-1 and 4-0.
AZ Alkmaar is also scheduled to face NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch Cup final on April 19, 2026. While the team typically employs a 4-2-3-1 tactical formation, they have exclusively used a 4-3-3 setup during the Conference League playoffs.
The clash between Shakhtar and AZ Alkmaar carries significant weight for both clubs and their supporters. This playoff represents a major test of European ambition for each side. Success here could profoundly impact the clubs' future development, opening doors to enhanced funding and squad strengthening. AZ, with its European pedigree, aims to leverage its experience against a Shakhtar side with its own formidable history on the continental stage.
As Shakhtar prepares for this crucial playoff against AZ Alkmaar, fans may also be interested in the club's recent history in European competitions. For a deeper look at Shakhtar's journey in the Europa Conference League, including their upcoming matches and previous encounters, check out our detailed overview of their quarter-final clash with AZ Alkmaar here.