AZ to Face Off Against Struggling Premier League Team in Europa League Round of 16

Having secured their place in the round of 16 for the UEFA Europa League, AZ Alkmaar aims to maintain their impressive form in Europe as they prepare for a clash in England.

The Eredivisie side, currently positioned fifth in the league, made a statement against Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, achieving a commanding 4-1 victory at home followed by a resilient 2-2 draw in Istanbul.

This marks AZ’s first appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 since the 2013/14 season, where they will compete against either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur.

Previously, AZ has faced both teams; however, their most recent contest was against Tottenham Hotspur, where they experienced a narrow defeat of 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season, thanks to a penalty from Richarlison.

AZ and Manchester United have clashed on two occasions, both during the 2019/20 Europa League season. In Alkmaar, the encounter ended in a 0-0 stalemate, while they suffered a 4-0 loss at Old Trafford in December 2019.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are facing their own challenges this season, situated within the bottom 10 of the Premier League standings. Nonetheless, each side also qualified in the top four in the Europa League’s group stage, with Manchester United finishing third and Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

The draw for the UEFA Europa League round of 16 will take place on Friday, 21 February at 13:00 CET in Nyon, Switzerland.