The second leg of the 2025/26 Conference League round of 16 tie between AC Sparta Prague (Czechia) and AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) will take place on 19 March at the Generali Arena. The first-leg score was 2:1 in favour of AZ Alkmaar. AC Sparta Prague vs AZ Alkmaar: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
AC Sparta Prague
A week ago, AC Sparta Prague were just a few minutes away from holding on for a draw. As a result, the home team saw their three-match winning run in the Conference League come to an end, with the defeat in the Netherlands their first in five previous games in this tournament. Overall, since the start of the current European season, the Czechs have lost only four of their last 13 matches, and it is important to note that the team have been beaten exclusively away from home. In front of their own fans, taking previous Conference League campaigns into account, the hosts have recorded five wins and two draws in their last seven matches.
- At least one team failed to score in six of the Czechs’ previous eight home games in the Conference League.
- The club have won with a (+1.5) handicap in 17 matches in this tournament.
- AC Sparta Prague have not conceded more than one goal in eight consecutive home matches in the Conference League.
Potential AC Sparta Prague Lineup (3-4-3)*
Jakub Surovcik – Adam Shevinski, Filip Panak, Jaroslav Zeleny – Oliver Sonne, Kaan Kairinen, Andy Irving, Matej Rynes – Garang Kuol, Matias Vojta, Lukas Haraslin.
Defenders Adam Shevinski and Elias Cobbaut, goalkeeper Peter Vindahl-Jensen, as well as midfielders Sivert Mannsverk, Patrik Vydra and Magnus Andersen will miss out through injury. The participation of midfielder Matej Rynes and defender Emmanuel Uchenna is in doubt.
AZ Alkmaar
Thanks to the home win, the team have suffered just one defeat in their last six Conference League games, with four of those six matches ending in victory. In general, like AC Sparta Prague, AZ Alkmaar have lost only four matches in the current European season, although the Dutch side have played two more games than their opponents. It is also worth adding that the club have been beaten strictly away from home as well. AZ Alkmaar’s current uncompromising run in the Conference League has stretched to 10 matches (three wins, seven defeats).
- At least two goals were scored in five of AZ Alkmaar’s last seven matches in the Conference League.
- At least one team failed to score in five of the Dutch side’s previous six games in this tournament.
- The club have won with a (+1.5) handicap in six consecutive Conference League matches.
Potential AZ Alkmaar Lineup (4-3-3)*
Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro – Mees de Wit, Wouter Goes, Alexandre Penetra, Denso Kasius – Kees Smit, Peer Koopmeiners, Sven Mijnans – Isak Jensen, Ro-Zangelo Daal, Troy Parrott.
Midfielder Jordy Clasie and defenders Mateo Chavez and Seiya Maikuma are currently sidelined. The participation of forward Ro-Zangelo Daal is in doubt.
Referee
Srdjan Jovanovic (Serbia)
Matches – 7 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 22;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.1;
Red cards shown – 1;
Fouls per match on average – 22;
Penalties – 14%.
AC Sparta Prague vs AZ Alkmaar: Match Prediction
AC Sparta Prague came up just short of a draw in Alkmaar. The club were only a few minutes away from avoiding defeat in their fifth consecutive Conference League match. Now the team must step up significantly, because home games have traditionally gone far better than away fixtures. The Czechs’ unbeaten home run in this competition now stands at seven matches, five of which ended in victories. In this season’s Conference League, AC Sparta Prague have failed to win at home only once – against Rakow (0:0).
AZ Alkmaar are also a side who tend to do better at home, so they now face a very tough test. It is telling that all of the Alkmaar outfit’s defeats in the current European season have come away from home. The club have lost three of their last four away matches in the Conference League, and across the last 11 games the Dutch side have managed only three wins in normal time – in seven of those 11 matches, AZ Alkmaar did not even manage a draw.
We can expect the Czechs to play much more boldly than last week, so the pick is AC Sparta Prague Draw No Bet.
Prediction: AC Sparta Prague Draw No Bet
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this tournament is listed.
