Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Dnipro-1 - prediction, team news, lineups

The Eredivisie outfit, who currently hold a two-point lead at the top of the group standings, head into the midweek contest needing just a draw to cement their place in the knockout stages.

Match preview

AZ Alkmaar continue to strengthen their position in the upper echelons of the Eredivisie standings as they claimed a 2-1 home victory over FC Volendam last Sunday.

Despite going one man down in the 14th minute when a red card was shown to Dani de Wit, goals from Jens Odgaard and Tijjani Reijnders set the hosts on their way to all three points before Henk Veerman pulled one back in the 48th minute.

This followed a 2-1 victory away to Swiss Super League outfit Vaduz in the Europa Conference League on October 27 which saw their run of three consecutive defeats across all competitions come to an end.

Pascal Jansen's men, who are two points off first-placed Ajax in the Eredivisie standings, now return to the Conference League where they have now picked up four wins and lost one of their five matches in Group E.

AZ Alkmaar head into the midweek match-up unbeaten in nine of their 10 home games across all competitions this season and currently sit top of the group standings, two points above Thursday's visitors.

Meanwhile, Dnipro-1 maintained their string of fine results in the Ukrainian Premier League as they held on for a narrow 1-0 victory over Chornomorets Odesa when the sides met last Sunday.

In a cagey affair at the Avanhard Stadium, former Shakhtar Donetsk forward Oleksandr Pikhalyonok came up clutch for the hosts as he netted in the 23rd minute to hand the visitors their sixth loss of the season.

Oleksandr Kucher's men are now on a run of three consecutive victories across all competitions, while they are unbeaten in their last 11 games across all competitions, dating back to a 1-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in September's reverse fixture.

Dnipro-1, who are enjoying an unbeaten campaign in the Premier League after claiming eight wins and one draw from their nine matches so far, sit at the top of the league standings with a five-point lead over second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainian outfit head into Thursday on a run of three wins from their last four Europa Conference League matches since their opening-day loss against AZ Alkmaar, with a 2-2 draw against Vaduz on October 6 being the only exception.

AZ Alkmaar Europa Conference League form:

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AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

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Dnipro-1 Europa Conference League form:

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Dnipro-1 form (all competitions):

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Team News

AZ Alkmaar will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Zinho Vanheusden and former Stoke City man Bruno Martins Indi, who are each recuperating from foot and muscle injuries respectively.

Norwegian midfielder Hakon Evjen, who registered two goals and two assists in the Europa Conference League qualifiers, is currently battling an ankle problem and will sit out Thursday's game.

While De Wit will serve his domestic suspension for receiving an early bath against Volendam last weekend, the 24-year-old, who has three Europa Conference League goals this season, should feature on Thursday.

As for Dnipro-1, Kucher will be unable to call upon the Argentine duo of Domingo Blanco and Emiliano Purita, who have both been ruled out through injuries.

Veteran midfielder Artem Gromov has missed the last three games through injury, while fellow Ukrainian Valeriy Luchkevych continues his spell on the sidelines after coming off injured against Vaduz on October 6.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Verhulst; Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Dekker, Kerkez; Reijnders, De Wit, Clasie; Sugawara, Odgaard, Karlsson

Dnipro-1 possible starting lineup:

Walef; Adamyuk, Svatok, Sarapiy, Hamache; Gorbunov, Babenko, Tanchyk, Pikahalyonok, Hutsuliak; Dovbyk

We say: AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Dnipro-1

Dnipro-1 have put together a superb run of form over the past few months and will head into the midweek clash with sky-high confidence after extending their domestic unbeaten run. However, they take on an AZ Alkmaar side whose home turf has been a fortress this season. We predict a thrilling contest with both sides cancelling each other's efforts and holding out for a share of the spoils.

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