The hosts overcame pre-tournament favourites Villarreal in the previous round, while AZ Alkmaar got the better of Serie A outfit Lazio to secure a place in the last eight of Europe's third tier club competition.
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Anderlecht play host to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie at Lotto Park on Thursday. The hosts overcame pre-tournament favourites Villarreal in the previous round, while AZ Alkmaar got the better of Serie A outfit Lazio to secure a place in the last eight of Europe’s third tier club competition. Anderlecht are heading into the match on the back of a 0-0 Belgian Pro League-draw against Eupen, while the visitors were beaten 1-0 by Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie.
Tuning in for the quarter-finals. 🔊 #ANDAZ #UECL pic.twitter.com/rXvJA1Mu8m
— RSC Anderlecht (@rscanderlecht) April 12, 2023
Anderlecht secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Villarreal in their Europa Conference League last-16 tie a few months ago. The first leg in Belgium ended in a 1-1 draw, while Islam Slimani’s lone goal in the second leg at El Madrigal proved to be the decisive goal. As of now, Brian Riemer’s side are sitting at the ninth spot in the Belgian top flight standings, having taken 46 points from 32 games, nine adrift of the top four. Having suffered only two defeats in their last 15 outings across all competitions, Anderlecht will be confident of notching a first-leg advantage on home soil.
AZ, on the other hand, defeated Lazio 2-1 in the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie, thanks to goals from Jesper Karlsson and Vangelis Pavlidis. The Dutch outfit went through to the last eight with a 4-2 aggregate win. But since then, Pascal Jansen’s men have failed to taste victory, taking one point from a possible nine to leave them fourth in the Dutch top flight standings, five points shy of the European places and 13 adrift of leaders Feyenoord. The Cheese Farmers have recorded 16 league-wins this term and last of those came against Groningen mid-way through March, courtesy of Karlsson’s lone goal inside the opening four minutes.
Anderlecht probable starting lineup: Verbruggen, Murillo, Debast, Vertonghen, N’Daiye, Ashimeru, Diawara, Arnstad, Dreyer, Slimani, Amuzu
AZ Alkmaar probable starting lineup: Ryan, Sugawara, Beukema, Hatzidiakos, Kerkez, Reijnders, Clasie, Odgaard, Mijnans, Mihailovic, Pavlidis
Anderlecht
| Opponents | Score |
| Westerlo | 0-0 (D) |
| Eupen | 0-1 (W) |
| Leuven | 0-2 (W) |
| Villarreal | 0-1 (W) |
| Cercle Brugge KSV | 2-0 (W) |
AZ Alkmaar
| Opponents | Score |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 0-1 (L) |
| Heerenveen | 1-1 (D) |
| Twente | 1-1 (D) |
| Lazio | 2-1 (W) |
| Groningen | 1-0 (W) |
| Last 4 match-results | Score |
| AZ Alkmaar draw Anderlecht | 1-1 |
| AZ Alkmaar beat Anderlecht | 0-1 |
| AZ Alkmaar beat Anderlecht | 1-0 |
| AZ Alkmaar beat Anderlecht | 2-1 |
The Europa Conference League match between Anderlecht and AZ Alkmaar will take place at Lotto Park on Friday at 12:30 am IST.
| Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar | Key Details |
| Date | April 13 (Belgium) |
| Venue | Lotto Park |
| Kickoff time in Belgium | 9:00 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in Netherlands | 9:00 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:30 am (Friday) |
Football fans in Netherlands can catch the live action between Anderlecht and AZ Almaark on ESPN 2, Veronica TV and Watch ESPN.
