AZ with expected eleven in hunt for goals against Anderlecht – Feyenoord defends 1-0 lead in swirling Rome

Lineup AZ: no surprises

AZ will take on Anderlecht with the same eleven as in the last game with Fortuna Sittard. Myron van Brederode replaces the injured Jesper Karlsson at left forward.

AZ’s selection arrives at the stadium in Alkmaar for the game with Anderlecht. Soon we will know the lineup.

Mazraoui hints at departure from Bayern Munich

Footballer Noussair Mazraoui is not ruling out a departure at Bayern Munich next summer. The Moroccan international says so in an interview with the newspaper Bild. The former Ajacied is dissatisfied with the number of playing minutes he gets at the German champion.

After playing with his country at the World Cup late last year, Mazraoui suffered an injury and fell ill. His comeback was in March, but since then he has hardly been used. Since new coach Thomas Tuchel has been in place, that has not changed.

“In the first half of the season I fought my way into the team,” Mazraoui told Bild. “In that period I was able to show what I can do. Now it feels like people have forgotten about me, although maybe those are big words. But in soccer, you are as good as you were in your last game. And my last game is from a long time ago. I’m not even second choice anymore, but third or fourth.”

That got him thinking about his future. “Still, I don’t want to think about giving up yet. In soccer, things can change quickly. But if the situation stays like this, it’s not what I want and it’s not what I deserve.”

Of the other former Ajax players in Munich, only Matthijs de Ligt is almost always in action. Daley Blind and Ryan Gravenberch are also mainly on the bench.

Laughter never far away from Kökçü, who blossoms in big duels: ‘I love that’

“I do like such matches.” Orkun Kökçü’s broad smile betrays that the Feyenoord captain is delightful in his skin and very much looking forward to tonight’s match against AS Roma in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.

This is understandable, as he has often excelled this season when Feyenoord has faced an opponent of stature.

FC Basel fans not welcome in Nice even after appeal

The fans of Swiss soccer club Basel are definitely not welcome at the match against OGC Nice. The two clubs meet Thursday night in the French city in the second match in the Conference League quarter-finals. Authorities in France announced Tuesday that Swiss supporters will not be allowed to show up in the city until 8 p.m. Friday evening for security reasons.

FC Basel disagreed and had gone to the French courts, but they ruled Thursday afternoon that the ban stands. Authorities in France decided to take action because riots broke out in Marseille last year at the match between FC Basel and Olympique Marseille. Earlier this season, things went wrong with Nice fans at the home match against 1. FC Köln.

ROM-FEY | Back to last week.

After the thick tears in Tirana, Rotterdam’s revenge is now a reality. Almost a year after the lost Conference League final, Feyenoord dealt a first blow to AS Roma this time: 1-0. With a starring role for Mats Wieffer.

This also happened Thursday night at the second instead of the third European level. In the last eight in the Europa League to be exact, with remaining superpowers like Juventus and Manchester United.

AZ-AND | Just back to last week

AZ is still far away from the semi-finals in the Conference League. Especially a weak first half did the Alkmaar players in the outward game with Anderlecht: 2-0.

That the duel is not yet decided, AZ proved when it rallied in the second half. But a series of big chances was wasted on Pascal Jansen’s team. So the Alkmaarers will have to repair the damage in a week’s time at their own stadium if they want to claim a place in the last four.

ROM-FEY | ‘I hate Rotterdam’

‘Cozy’ stickers in the center of Rome. Fans of AS Roma have plastered the city with stickers reading “Odio Rotterdam,” “I hate Rotterdam.

AZ-AND | Outlook: ‘Faith’ key word AZ, aiming for European turnaround without Karlsson

He repeated it a few times, leaving no doubt. Yes, AZ fully believes in a turnaround against Anderlecht, Thursday night, in the return match in the quarter-finals of the Conference League. Why shouldn’t the Alkmaarders be able to advance a round after all?

Of course, because of the 2-0 deficit, it will be a tough job, agreed coach Pascal Jansen. However, he draws confidence from a recent comeback in the English league, at the expense of leaders Arsenal.

Jansen: “The upcoming, possible champion in the Premier League was ahead 2-0 against West Ham and then in that match it also becomes 2-2. In soccer it is not out of the question that you score two goals and don’t concede anything more yourself. That would mean an extension tomorrow.”

ROM-FEY | Italian police take Feyenoord fans to safety after assault in Rome

A group of about 100 to 150 Feyenoord supporters were besieged by Italian hooligans in Rome last night. Police moved the supporters to safety by taking them to their hotels by city buses, writes Rijnmond.

Tonight at 9 p.m., Feyenoord will play the Europa League quarterfinals against AS Roma. Italian authorities have ruled that for security reasons no Feyenoord supporters are allowed at the match, but several hundred fans have traveled to Italy anyway. A delegation of the Rotterdam police also went to Rome as a precaution.

We are heading into a hot night of European soccer and it starts soon. AZ will host Anderlecht in the quarterfinals of the Conference League as early as 6:45 p.m. The Alkmaarders have to work hard, as they lost 2-0 in Belgium last week.

Later in the evening, Feyenoord defended a 1-0 lead against AS Roma in Rome. Coach Arne Slot’s men kick off at 9 p.m. at Stadio Olimpico.

Below is tonight’s full schedule.