AZ v Juventus team news: Koopmeiners derby, 11 Juve out
AZ Alkmaar welcome Juventus to the AFAS Stadion on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 21:00 WAT (20:00 GMT) in matchday four of the Europa League league phase, with Teun Koopmeiners set to face his younger brother Peer. Luciano Spalletti travels without 11 players, by Gazzetta's count,, including Kenan Yildiz, Manuel Locatelli and Weston McKennie, while AZ have Kees Smit back on the bench.
By Emily · · Updated
Who is missing for Juventus at AZ Alkmaar?
Juventus flew to the Netherlands without the injured Yildiz, Locatelli, Khéphren Thuram, Francisco Conceição, Çelik, Nico González and goalkeeper Grabara, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Zhegrova, Rugani and Milik are not in the UEFA squad. McKennie is also absent, fatigued and rested ahead of Sunday's Serie A game against Fiorentina. Gazzetta says Spalletti called up four young players, and Ekhator was added to the UEFA list in place of Locatelli. NOS also lists club captain Locatelli, Conceição and Yildiz among the absentees.
What did Spalletti say about his team?
Spalletti confirmed several changes at the Juventus press conference on Wednesday. "There will be a few changes: Sarr will start, as will Cambiaso, whilst Douglas Luiz needs a breather. Either Bremer or Lucumí will also be rested initially," he said. "Up front, we'll field three forwards, all mobile players with different attributes." Gazzetta adds that Lloyd Kelly starts.
He backed two attackers by name. Kerim Alajbegović, 19, "will play a significant part in the match, whether from the start or as a substitute," and Randal Kolo Muani "could start the match". Spalletti said he did not want to rank the Europa League below Serie A: "We mustn't have to choose between the league and the Europa League."
How does Spalletti see AZ?
"They're a side that always tries to play the ball on the ground, with a modern style of play, a strong striker and two wingers capable of taking on their men," Spalletti said. "They build up play with three players and can defend with four or five, with Peer Koopmeiners often dictating these changes."
What is AZ's team news?
AZ coach Lee-Roy Echteld has midfielder Kees Smit back in the squad after a month out with an injury picked up with the Netherlands under-21s, Voetbal International reported. Echteld said the 20-year-old is not ready to start but can come off the bench. "It is clear that we miss him," he said, in comments carried by NOS (TuSport translation from Dutch). VI notes that AZ have taken one point from their last four Eredivisie games, while NOS describes the squad as almost complete.
What did Teun Koopmeiners say about facing his brother?
"Facing my brother Peer will be really special," Koopmeiners said. "We've already come up against each other in two friendlies, but tomorrow will be different because it's an official match." Both brothers came through the AZ academy, the AZ club preview notes; Teun then moved to Atalanta before Juventus. He described his old club as "a side that always wants to play, presses high up the pitch straight away and brings great intensity". Asked about his position, he said: "I'm comfortable in defence too, but I'm a midfielder and Spalletti has told me so."
What do the numbers say?
The Juventus match preview says this is the first European meeting between the clubs. AZ are unbeaten in their last 17 home games in Europe (14 wins, three draws) since a 4-1 defeat by Aston Villa in October 2023, and unbeaten in their last five European games against Italian sides. Juventus have nine goals in this Europa League, a total only Benfica (10) have beaten. Gazzetta lists Juventus results as a 5-0 win over NEC, a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo and a 2-2 draw with Rennes, while AZ lost to Sunderland before beating Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Ararat-Armenia. Polish referee Damian Sylwestrzak takes charge, with Piotr Lasyk on VAR.
TuSport desk: two squads heading in opposite directions
Line the two sets of team news up and the gap is clear. Gazzetta counts 11 Juventus players unavailable, and its list names seven injured, three left off the UEFA squad and McKennie rested. NOS describes AZ as close to a full squad, with Smit fit enough for the bench. Juventus arrive in better Europa League form, on seven points to AZ's six, but with far fewer options.
The numbers on each side point the same way. AZ have not lost any of their last 17 European home games, and their Italian record in Europe reads six wins from nine meetings by the club's own count. Juventus, meanwhile, have nine goals in three games, and two of their three players with at least two goals, Kolo Muani and Woltemade, can still play; Çelik is injured. On our reading, the decisive pairing is Peer Koopmeiners, who Spalletti says shapes AZ's switch between a back three and a back four or five, against a Juventus midfield missing Locatelli and McKennie. Teun Koopmeiners says he is a midfielder first, so his own role is worth watching at kick-off.
For fans in Nigeria, kick-off is 21:00 WAT, in the late wave of Thursday's Europa League games. Milan v Ferencváros starts earlier, at 18:45 WAT, so both can be followed on the same evening.
Why it matters
A win would take Juventus to ten points and keep them in the chase for a top-eight finish and a direct place in the last 16, while a home win would lift AZ to nine points, above Juventus. Follow the Juventus, Eredivisie and Netherlands hubs and the WAT kick-off times guide. Read our earlier reports on Genoa's win over Juventus and Kamaldeen Sulemana's return to the Atalanta squad.
Who will win?
AZ Alkmaar v Juventus · Thu 05 Nov, 21:00 WAT · AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar
One vote per reader. Results show after you vote.
Sources: Juventus — Spalletti and Koopmeiners' comments ahead of AZ Alkmaar-Juventus · Juventus — Preview | AZ Alkmaar-Juventus · AZ — Alles over AZ - Juventus · La Gazzetta dello Sport — Spalletti: "La fiducia del club fa piacere, qui alla Juve sono abituati a vedere allenatori che se ne vanno" · NOS — Ajax mist Brandt en Amrabat in Conference League, AZ heeft Smit terug · Voetbal International — Smit terug bij AZ, Echteld reageert op keuze Oufkir voor Marokko
