AZ Alkmaar-Roma: Giallorossi chasing direct access to the round of 16, formations and times

Alkmaar, 22 January 2025 - After a month of waiting, the game returns to Europe and the Rome restarts with a far from easy away match against a direct opponent in the race for the round of 16. The team from the capital will in fact fly to Holland where they will face theAZ in a match that on paper is spectacular. Two similar teams, whose strength is verticality, ready to battle because direct access to the eighth finals is possible for both. For now, however, both are part of the large group of play-offs and so who knows, this match could also be a small preview of what will be the play-offs for the eighth finals of this competition. The challenge valid for the seventh day of this phase of the championship of Europa League will see its kick-off at 18.45.

Currently in 8th place in the standings, AZ has XNUMX points in the standings and needs to win to protect themselves from surprises on the final day of the competition. Eighth place is not out of reach for the Dutch team, which however must also watch its back. Braga, currently the first team excluded, is only one point away, while three separate them from Rangers, currently eighth in the competition. Compared to the recent past, the red and white team is not in its most talented version. The team is going through a phase of renewal and this is also being noticed in the Eredivisie, where they are currently in sixth place, forced to defend their place in Europe. However, this does not mean that the Kaaskoppen team lacks quality players, in attack in particular there is a lot of imagination and youth. All the attacking players of theAlkmaar They were born after 2000 and on a charismatic level they are led by the son of art Ruben Van Bommel, but the goalscorer is the Irishman Troy Parrott. Among the players in the squad there is also Peer Koopmeiners, brother of Teun.

Just one point more in the standings than the opponents on the pitch, the Rome still has to unlock the away wins box and if he wants to continue chasing eighth place, he will have to start from Alkmaar would be important. Direct qualification to the round of 16 is only two points away, but so is elimination from theEuropa League. Ranieri in his first continental match since his return he had snatched an unexpected draw from Tottenham and on paper this challenge is definitely more within the reach of his boys. The two victories in the last two to close the championship phase do not give the Capitoline team the mathematical certainty of a place among the top eight, but giving up on it a priori is not in Sir Claudio's style. In the last challenge the Giallorossi demolished the Braga and on paper the quality of theAlkmaar it is not dissimilar to that of the Portuguese red and whites, for this reason the Rome, despite the difficulties away from home, is the favourite and must assert itself as their white and sky blue cousins ​​did in their two away matches in the Netherlands.

La Uefa for this challenge valid for the seventh day of Europa League He appointed the Bosnian Irfan Fear as a referee for the match between AZ e Rome, scheduled for Thursday at 18:45. The Balkan referee will be assisted by assistants Senad Ibrisimbegovic and Davor Beljo. The fourth official will be Antoni Bandic, while the VAR room will be occupied by the German Christian Dingert and the Polish Tomasz Kwiatkowski. Seasonal referee number 14 for the Bosnian referee, the second in Europa League to which he adds 5 more Champions League, 2 of Nations League and 5 of the Bosnian championship. First ever crossover between Peljto and the Dutch of theAZ, while there is a precedent with the Giallorossi, unfortunately unfortunate for the Romans. In fact, in December 2020 the match director refereed the 3-1 defeat in Bulgaria of Rome against CSKA Sofia, even then it was about Europa League, XNUMX Fonseca coach of the Capitoline team.

Probable lineups

AZ does not want to lose its place among the 24 and to do so it will not make calculations: the best possible team will be on the field against this Roma, in an attempt to trip up the Giallorossi. Between the posts Owusu-Oduro protected by the four-man line composed of Goes e It penetrates in the center, with Maikuma right and Moller Wolfe to the left. In the median classic e koopmeiners they dictate the times, while myans will be the attacking midfielder behind a daring three-man attack led by parrott in the center, poku right and Van Bommel to the left.

No upheavals in the Capitoline team, but some small changes to give minutes to players less used in recent weeks. In goal, no changes Silker, but there could be rest for Hummels, with Beautiful to act on the centre-left, N'Dicka in the center e Mancini on the right. In the middle we are moving towards the confirmation of the five-man line, with Paredes to act as a metronome between Koné e pisilli. There is on the right Saelemaekers, El Shaarawy on the left, while up front Dybala is on rest, in his place there is Soulé to support dovbyk.  AZ Alkmaar (4-2-1-3) Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetrate, Goes, Moller Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Mijnans; Poku, Parrott, van Bommel. All. Maarten Martens.

Rome (3-5-2) Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Saelemaekers, Paredes, Koné, Pisilli, El Shaarawy; Soulé, Dovbyk. Coach Claudio Ranieri.

Where to watch the match

The match between AZ Alkmaar e Rome of the AFAS Stadion, valid for the seventh day of the championship phase of the Europa League, will start at 18:45 on 23 January 2025. There will be several options to watch the match. The match will be visible on satellite on the platform Sky, to the channels Sky Sports One (channel 201) e Sky Sports channel 252The match will also be available for streaming on NOW for those who have subscribed to the platform and on Sky Go for those who have a season ticket Sky. You can follow the match by downloading the app on your smart TV or by connecting the TV to a PlayStation 4/5, Xbox console, or to a TIMVISION BOX, to an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast device. Viewing also possible via app or website NOW on tablets, PCs and smartphones. The commentary of the challenge will be entrusted to Riccardo Gentile and Aldo Serena.