Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Zrinjski Mostar - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides are on three points after four matches, with a six-point gap to Legia Warsaw and Aston Villa at the top of Group E.

Match preview

Indeed, AZ will be praying for Unai Emery's side to defeat Legia Warsaw at Villa Park later on Thursday, otherwise the Dutch side will be eliminated regardless of their own result against Zrinjski Mostar.

Head-to-head rules means they cannot overtake Aston Villa having lost both of their matches against them, but they could leapfrog Legia Warsaw by beating them on the final matchday after already defeating the Polish Ekstraklasa runners-up in early October.

Of course, Pascal Jansen's side must do the business themselves in order to have a chance of setting themselves up for that position, with anything short of victory against the Bosnia & Herzegovina Premier League champions on Thursday set to see them eliminated from the Europa Conference League with a match to spare.

After reaching the knockout stages in each of the last two seasons of this competition, that would represent a major disappointment for the Cheese Farmers. They returned to winning ways in the Dutch Eredivisie by beating FC Volendam 3-0 on Sunday, which saw them move above FC Twente into third position in the process.

However, they will be turning their attentions to European action once again in midweek, with Jansen facing significant pressure to maintain his team's excellent record in this tournament and avoid a premature exit, even if their destiny is no longer in their own hands in that regard.

For Zrinjski Mostar, there is far less expectation on their shoulders, as this is the club's first ever venture into the group stage of any European competition in their history. The eight-time Bosnian champions fell short at the qualifying stages of the Champions League and Europa League, so found themselves competing in Europe's third tier as a result.

After beating AZ 4-3 at Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom on the opening matchday, the Nobles would have held high hopes of upsetting the apple cart by progressing to the knockout stages, but those dreams have been all but been dashed following three successive defeats.

Indeed, similarly to AZ's dynamic with Aston Villa, Zrinjski are unable to finish above Legia Warsaw due to losing both of their matches against them. As such, they will be hoping for an away win at Villa Park on Thursday, otherwise they will be eliminated even if they can secure a shock victory in Alkmaar on Thursday.

They will travel to the Netherlands without a permanent manager in place after sacking Krunoslav Rendulic earlier this month, but caretaker boss Mario Ivankovic has won both of his matches in charge so far to remain four points behind league leaders Borac Banja Luka in their domestic division. The 48-year-old and his players require another if they are to remain in European competition.

AZ Alkmaar Europa Conference League form:

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AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

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Zrinjski Mostar Europa Conference League form:

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Zrinjski Mostar form (all competitions):

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Team News

AZ are expected to remain without Mees de Wit and Sam Westerveld due to foot and knee injuries respectively, but otherwise Jansen should have a clean bill of health to select from.

With his team having to win this match in order to stand any chance of remaining in the tournament, Jansen is likely to select his strongest starting XI, so he could name the same team which dispatched Volendam at the weekend.

Likewise, Zrinjski will be determined to give themselves the best possible chance of staying in the Europa Conference League, meaning captain Nemanja Bilbija should lead the line after bagging a brace against GOSK Gabela on Sunday.

Filip Bradaric will travel with the matchday squad, as his current suspension only applies to domestic action.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Sugawara, Bazoer, Martins Indi, Wolfe; Dantas, Clasie; Poku, Mijnans, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

Zrinjski Mostar possible starting lineup:

Maric; Corluka, Senic, Radic, Memija; Ramic, Zlomislic; Malekinusic, Kis, Cuze; Bilbija

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Zrinjski Mostar

With both teams' places in the Europa Conference League hanging on by a thread, we expect to see a fiercely contested encounter play out in Alkmaar on Thursday, but the hosts are clear favourites to win.

Of course, a draw between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw in Birmingham later in the evening would eliminate both teams, but we expect AZ to give themselves a chance of remaining in the competition by dispatching Zrinjski.

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