Oliver Glasner will be hoping to make the most of home support when Crystal Palace host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.
Two evenly matched sides meet for the very first time in European competition as Crystal Palace host AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park on Thursday night in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Both teams sit on three points after two matchdays, making this clash pivotal in shaping their qualification hopes.
For Crystal Palace, this fixture represents more than just another European group-stage encounter, it is an opportunity to secure their first-ever home win in European competition. Their debut on the continental stage began promisingly, as they recorded a professional 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv on Matchday 1.
However, the euphoria quickly faded with a shock 1-0 defeat to AEK Larnaca in their first European game at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and recording 13 shots, only one found the target as Palace’s lack of clinical edge proved costly. Manager Oliver Glasner was quick to caution his players against complacency, reminding them that European success must be earned, not assumed.
The Austrian tactician’s words appeared to resonate, as Crystal Palace bounced back impressively with consecutive clean-sheet wins over Liverpool (EFL Cup) and Brentford (Premier League), the latter a comfortable 2-0 result that pushed them into the top half of the table.
Crystal Palace’s recent run has showcased improved defensive stability and tactical discipline under Glasner, with the Eagles winning 10 of their 19 home matches in 2025 and suffering only three defeats. With Selhurst Park’s atmosphere always a factor, the Eagles will be eager to end their European home drought and stake a stronger claim in the Conference League standings.
However, standing in Crystal Palace way are AZ Alkmaar who, while inconsistent on their travels, arrive in South London buoyed by a superb run of form. Their campaign began disastrously with a 4-0 thrashing by AEK Larnaca, but Maarten Martens’s men have responded superbly, stringing together five consecutive wins across all competitions, including a narrow 1-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava on Matchday 2.
That triumph came despite a staggering 29 shots, underlining both AZ’s attacking persistence and occasional inefficiency in front of goal. Domestically, they continue to impress, most recently edging Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 thanks to Kees Smit’s second-half strike, a win that cemented their position in the Eredivisie’s top three.
Yet, their away form in Europe remains a concern, AZ have won only two of their last 14 European away matches, and both of those came against significantly weaker opposition. They will need to be far more clinical and composed if they hope to end Palace’s resurgence and climb up the Conference League standings.
With both sides sharing similar ambitions but vastly different strengths, the South London club’s home resilience versus AZ’s technical precision, Thursday’s encounter promises to be a finely balanced affair between Premier League physicality and Dutch tactical flair. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace continue to contend with several injury absences as they aim to strengthen their position in the Conference League. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Caleb Kporha (back) and Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) are also unavailable for selection.
Additionally, Adam Wharton will be assessed ahead of kick-off after missing the Brentford victory due to illness. Should Adam Wharton return to full fitness, he is expected to reclaim his spot in midfield, potentially replacing Daichi Kamada, who may be handed a rest after a busy run of fixtures.
The remaining central midfield position is likely to be contested between Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes, both of whom bring different attributes, Lerma’s physicality and defensive coverage versus Hughes’s composure in possession.
At the back, Oliver Glasner could consider rotating his defensive setup once again. Jaydee Canvot is in contention to replace Chris Richards at centre-back, while Borna Sosa, having served his one-match suspension in Europe, could challenge Tyrick Mitchell for the left wing-back role. Daniel Munoz should continue on the right flank, providing width and attacking support down the channels.
In terms of structure, Crystal Palace are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against AZ Alkmaar. Dean Henderson will continue between the posts, shielded by a three-man defence of Jaydee Canvot, Maxence Lacroix, and captain Marc Guehi. The wing-backs, Daniel Munoz on the right and Borna Sosa on the left, will play crucial roles in both transitions and overlapping runs.
In midfield, Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma should form the central pairing, tasked with controlling tempo and protecting the back line. Ahead of them, Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino are set to support the lone striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose recent form has made him the focal point of Crystal Palace’s attacking play.
With key players returning and the squad gaining rhythm, the home side’s balance of defensive solidity and counter-attacking efficiency makes them formidable at home, particularly as they chase their first European win at Selhurst Park.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Sosa; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar: Preview and Prediction.
AZ Alkmaar
AZ Alkmaar travel to South London with a few fitness concerns to manage as they look to extend their fine domestic form into Europe. Seiya Maikuma continues his recovery from a knee injury and is yet to be declared fit, while Mexx Meerdink remains sidelined due to a lingering groin problem.
Experienced midfielder Jordy Clasie also misses out with an unspecified issue, and all three are not expected to feature in Thursday’s clash. Fortunately for head coach Maarten Martens, the remainder of his squad is available for selection, and the Dutch tactician is likely to field a strong lineup to build on recent momentum.
Leading the line for AZ Alkmaar will be Troy Parrott, the in-form Irish striker who has been in sensational touch this season. The former Tottenham Hotspur forward has already netted 13 goals in just 12 appearances, including seven in five Conference League qualifiers, and will once again spearhead the attack as the team’s main source of goals. Behind him, Kees Smit, the 18-year-old midfield prodigy, will look to continue his breakout season after scoring decisive goals in recent Eredivisie victories.
In defence, Alexandre Penetra and Maxim Dekker are vying for a place alongside Wouter Goes at centre-back, with both offering Martens different tactical options, Penetra brings composure and ball progression, while Dekker provides aerial presence and defensive solidity. Denso Kasius should start at right-back, while Mees de Wit, typically an attacking midfielder, could fill in on the left side of the defensive line to balance their structure.
AZ Alkmaar are expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, maintaining their characteristic focus on possession and wide attacking play. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro will guard the goal, shielded by a back four of Denso Kasius, Wouter Goes, Maxim Dekker, and Mees de Wit.
In midfield, Peer Koopmeiners, Sven Mijnans, and Kees Smit will form a dynamic trio, Koopmeiners dictating play from deep, Mijnans driving forward through the lines, and Smit linking play between midfield and attack. Up front, Weslley Patati and Isak Jensen will provide width and pace on the flanks, flanking centre-forward Troy Parrott, who will look to exploit any gaps in Palace’s back line with his sharp movement and finishing instinct.
With Martens’s men on a five-match winning streak, AZ Alkmaar’s tactical fluidity, combined with their growing confidence, could make them dangerous visitors at Selhurst Park despite their injury setbacks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Owuso-Oduro; Kasius, Goes, Dekker, De Wit; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Smit; Patati, Parrott, Jensen
Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar: Preview and Prediction.
Key Stats
This will be the first competitive encounter between Crystal Palace and AZ Alkmaar, marking the London club’s debut against Dutch opposition in European competition.
Crystal Palace are still seeking their first-ever European home victory, having lost their only previous continental fixture at Selhurst Park (1-0 vs AEK Larnaca).
AZ Alkmaar have won just 2 of their last 14 European away matches (D3 L9), and have failed to score in six of those fixtures, highlighting their inconsistency outside the Netherlands.
AZ striker Troy Parrott has scored 13 goals in 12 appearances this season across all competitions, including seven goals in just five Conference League qualifiers, making him the team’s most prolific player.
Crystal Palace have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches in all competitions, including recent wins over Liverpool and Brentford, underlining their improving defensive organisation under Oliver Glasner.
Player to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta
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Mateta has quietly evolved into one of Crystal Palace’s most reliable attacking outlets under Oliver Glasner. The French striker combines physical presence with surprising agility, often acting as both the focal point and finisher of Palace’s quick, transitional attacks.
Mateta’s ability to hold up play allows creative wingers like Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino to thrive around him, while his instinctive movement inside the box frequently puts him in the right place to convert chances. His composure in front of goal, particularly from close range, has made him the club’s top-scoring forward in 2025, and his recent strike against Brentford showcased the confidence he is playing with.
Beyond goals, Mateta’s work rate and pressing from the front have become vital to Palace’s tactical structure. Against AZ Alkmaar’s possession-based backline, his physicality and smart positioning could prove decisive in forcing errors and turning half-chances into match-winning opportunities. If Palace are to secure their first European home victory, expect the Frenchman to be at the centre of the action, leading the line with power, persistence, and purpose.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 2-1 AZ Alkmaar
Crystal Palace will enter this fixture buoyed by their recent domestic form and the confidence that comes from consecutive wins over Liverpool and Brentford. Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have shown greater defensive discipline and tactical structure, especially at Selhurst Park, where their pressing game often unsettles visiting teams.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, have rediscovered momentum after a shaky start to their European campaign, but their away form in Europe remains inconsistent. Despite their creative flair and Troy Parrott’s lethal finishing, the Dutch side’s back line has shown vulnerabilities when pressed high and forced into quick transitions.
With Jean-Philippe Mateta in strong form and Crystal Palace likely to control the tempo at home, the Premier League side should finally earn their long-awaited first European home win , though AZ Alkmaar’s attacking quality could ensure a closely contested affair. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Oliver Glasner and his charges.