Among the canals and the scent of the famous cheeses that have made Alkmaar one of the symbolic cities of the Netherlands, Juventus are preparing for a trip that is anything but straightforward. Waiting for them will be not just an AZ hungry for glory but a series of stories worth telling: the Koopmeiners family ready to face each other on opposite sides, a young centre-forward with goals in his blood, an Italian son of a former footballer, and a European precedent that smiles on the Bianconeri.
Spalletti’s side arrive after two wins and a draw in the first three matches of the league phase, with the aim of giving continuity to their European run and leaving behind the difficulties of the start of the season. Tuttosport’s warning is not to underestimate the Dutch side. In Alkmaar, it says, the wind can change direction quickly, and not only the one that blows around the stadium.
From the Origin of the Name to the Trophy Cabinet
The club as it is known today was born in 1967 from the merger of two teams, Alkmaar ’54 and FC Zaanstreek. The initials of those two clubs gave the name AZ. Over its history the Dutch club has had several financial problems and has spent most of its time in the upper-middle part of the Eredivisie table, though it has not lacked moments of glory.
AZ have won the national championship twice, in 1980-81 and 2008-09. They have won the KNVB Cup, the Dutch Cup, five times: 1977-78, 1980-81, 1981-82, 2012-13 and 2025-26. It was the final win over NEC last season that earned them qualification for the Europa League, a competition the club knows well.
In 1980-81, when it was still called the UEFA Cup, AZ came within a step of the title, losing the final to Ipswich Town in an epic two-legged tie that finished 5-4 on aggregate. More recently they were protagonists in the Conference League, reaching the semi-final in 2022-23. Tuttosport sums them up as a dark horse that can cause problems, with a stadium that can also become hostile.
The Storylines Around the Match
The page promises several threads beyond the history. One is the Koopmeiners family facing each other on opposite sides, which has an obvious link to Teun Koopmeiners, who has been moving back towards the starting eleven under Spalletti. Another is a young Dutch centre-forward, Meerdink, described as having goals in his blood, and a third is the Italian son-of-a-footballer, Natali. The page’s headline also mentions an Italian 2008-born player from Barcelona.
On the head-to-head, the only previous meeting listed is in the Youth League, and the article describes it as favourable to the Bianconeri.
Why It Matters for Juventus
The match comes two days after the club changed its UEFA list to add Ekhator and a day after Carnevali’s shareholders’ meeting, with McKennie doubtful after his adductor strain. A good result in Alkmaar would extend the recovery that began against Napoli, while a stumble would put pressure back on a squad that has only just stabilised. Kick-off is at 21:00 on Thursday.
