The UEFA Conference League knockout stages bring a compelling encounter as AZ Alkmaar prepares to host FC Noah at the AFAS Stadion. While Alkmaar’s European pedigree surpasses the Armenian contenders, last week’s shock reversed expectations, with Noah claiming a narrow victory in their first-leg duel. The hosts, guided by Lee-Roy Echteld, now face the challenge of overturning a deficit, while Noah arrive with new-found belief after their resolute performance at home.
Keep an eye on Alkmaar’s dynamic forward Troy Parrott, whose sharp movement and ability to create scoring opportunities can trouble any defense. For Noah, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan stands out after contributing crucial goals from defense, providing much-needed leadership at the back and late runs into the box.
Hot stat: In the last five matches, AZ Alkmaar have racked up an impressive 77 shots, compared to Noah’s 26—demonstrating their attacking intent and tactical setup focused on sustained pressure.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Conference League 2025/26 – Knockout Stage |
| 🏟 Venue: | AFAS Stadion (Alkmaar), Alkmaar |
| 🗓️ Date: | 26.02.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 22:00 CEST |
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AZ Alkmaar vs Noah prediction
Considering the significant contrast in firepower, home advantage, and shot metrics, the best value bet is on AZ Alkmaar to secure a win in regular time. The Dutch side’s attacking frequency, highlighted by their 77 shots and 8 goals in the last five outings, contrasts heavily with Noah’s mere 2 goals and 26 shots. Despite falling behind in the first leg, Alkmaar’s tactical fluidity (primarily a 5-4-1 structure favoring wingbacks and late midfield surges) should allow them to break down the visitors’ defense.
Both teams show distinct styles: AZ Alkmaar balance possession with quick transitions while frequently pushing their wingbacks high up the pitch—a tactic yielding 27 corners across five matches, an indicator of their width and offensive commitment. However, 14 yellow cards in that span also point to their willingness to disrupt play when needed. Noah, on the other hand, maintain a compact and disciplined 4-2-3-1, focusing on defensive rigidity—just 4 cautions and 2 corners show a more reactive, cautious approach.
Expect Alkmaar’s sustained attacking threat and higher possession share to increase the match tempo and corner count, while Noah’s preference for containment could see the visitors drawing Alkmaar into fouls but offering little going forward.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | AZ Alkmaar -1.5 (Asian Handicap) |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
AZ Alkmaar:
In their previous fixture, Alkmaar faced Noah away and were stunned 0-1 in a cagey contest. Despite a strong push, missed chances and Noah’s stubborn defending left Alkmaar chasing the tie. Prior to this, AZ had demonstrated resilience and attacking punch: a 3-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam showcased their ability to dominate inferior sides, while competitive draws against Ajax (1-1) and Twente (1-1) highlighted their consistency against stronger opponents. Crucially, Alkmaar have scored 8 goals across their last five—underlining their offensive depth, backed by 77 shots and a robust 69 percent pass accuracy.
Noah:
Noah enter this clash buoyed by their hard-fought win over Alkmaar, achieved despite posting limited offensive numbers—just 2 goals from 26 shots in five games. Their prior matches illustrate both promise and limitations: a 0-0 against FC Astana and a remarkable 5-5 draw with Yunnan Yukun reveal defensive frailty and the ability to grind out results. Losses to Russian opposition (0-3 to Rostov, 0-2 to Lokomotiv Moscow) further highlight the gulf in quality Noah must bridge. Coach Sandro Perkovic’s side posted only 4 yellow cards and 2 corners in recent games, proving their focus on order and low-risk football.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | AZ Alkmaar | Noah |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Total shots | 11 | 5 |
| Free kicks | 12 | 14 |
| Corner kicks | 4 | 0 |
| Total fouls | 9 | 14 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 74 | 59 |
| Interceptions | 10 | 18 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
🚨Read our full AZ Alkmaar vs Noah stats for more analysis.

Noah. Source: Official Website
Pre-game odds and win probability: AZ Alkmaar the favourite
- Moneyline AZ Alkmaar 1.29 | Noah 10.50
- Draw 5.50
- Over/Under Over 2.5 1.71 | Under 2.5 2.10
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes 2.20 | No 1.60
AZ Alkmaar’s overwhelming odds reflect their standing as home favorites and the marked gulf in attacking and defensive quality. Noah are priced as huge underdogs due to their lower shot creation, limited goalscoring record, and lack of experience at this stage. The slim draw probability echoes Alkmaar’s strong home form and Noah’s tendency to play for damage limitation on the road. “Both teams to score – No” is favored, given Noah’s meager attacking stats and Alkmaar’s typical defensive control at home.
You can find all our predictions for today’s games on our football betting tips page.
Possible Starting Lineups
AZ Alkmaar possible starting eleven

- GK: Hobie Verhulst
- DF: Maxim Dekker, Mees de Wit, Alexandre Penetra, Wouter Goes, Elijah Dijkstra
- MF: Peer Koopmeiners, Kasper Boogaard, Matěj Šín, Sven Mijnans
- FW: Troy Parrott
Alkmaar are likely to maintain their trusted 5-4-1 formation, maximizing defensive width and wingback thrusts. Mees de Wit’s consistent minutes and assist output, paired with the composure of Alexandre Penetra, provide stability in the backline. Peer Koopmeiners and Kasper Boogaard lend balance in midfield, offering both invention and disruption. Troy Parrott is the focal point to watch—his movement and shot volume make him their prime threat.
Noah possible starting eleven

- GK: Aleksey Ploshchadnyi
- DF: Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, Nermin Zolotic, Hélder Ferreira, Sergey Muradyan
- MF: Gustavo Sangare, Yan Eteki, Gor Manvelyan
- FW: Imran Oulad Omar, Matheus Aias, Gonçalo Silva
Noah’s probable 4-2-3-1 formation reflects their defensive priorities. Hambardzumyan is a key figure at fullback, having contributed two recent goals. Sangare and Eteki anchor the midfield, tasked with shielding the backline and launching counters. Up front, Matheus Aias will be tasked with pressing from the front and exploiting any rare opportunities on the break.
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AZ Alkmaar. Source: Official Website
My take on the Match
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar to win by two or more goals.
Having assessed both recent trends and underlying numbers, Alkmaar’s aggressive, chance-creating style at home should prove decisive against a Noah team short on attacking ideas and defensive depth. Expect Noah to sit deep, but Alkmaar’s superior shot-creation, set-piece threat, and urgent need to reverse the tie will likely see them dominate from the outset. My main pick is AZ Alkmaar -1.5 Asian Handicap, confident in their ability to deliver under pressure.
