AZ Alkmaar occupy the last qualifying spot in the Europa League table, so the three points are mandatory. Fenerbahce remain undefeated in the competition after stealing a point from Manchester United in the previous round.
For a while, AZ Alkmaar were looking like a team that plans to run for the title in the Netherlands but that ambition got crushed in the last couple of months. A seven-match winless streak has now replaced their previous seven-match unbeaten run, as AZ also lost six of those games.
Their only excuse could be the fact that they faced three of Eredivisie's top contenders and two of the main favourites in the Europa League. But still, losing 6/7 games is unacceptable.
Jose Mourinho will have to watch his team away from the dugout as he was handed a red card when Fenerbahce were denied a penalty against United and he lost his nerves.
But the point against the Red Devils should serve as a huge motivator for the Yellow Canaries, who aim to become the first Turkish team to beat AZ Alkmaar. The Dutch side has three wins and three draws against teams from Turkey.
How the bookies view it: AZ fans better close your eyes
AZ Alkmaar were surely going to be the favourites if this match happened three months ago. Now, bookmakers give a slight edge to the visitors, although the odds are almost completely centered. Betano gave AZ 15/8 to win on Thursday, while the visitors sit at 3/2. The draw is currently available at 23/10.
Recent head to head: It's been a while since these teams met
AZ Alkmaar and Fenerbahce have met in the past, although the last official setting dates back to 2007. More recently, the teams played a friendly match in 2019, which ended in a 3-2 for Fenerbahce.
Players to watch: A Dzeko-Tadic masterclass?
Age is just a number for Edin Dzeko and the 38-year-old Bosnian legend continues to score again and again. The striker is Fenerbahce's top scorer this season, with 11 goals in 17 match appearances in all competitions.
Dusan Tadic is another famous name in Mourinho's squad, and he is also very familiar with AZ Alkmaar from the years he spent at Ajax. Tadic has scored three goals against this team in the past and is right behind Dzeko on Fenerbahce's scorers' list with six goals this season.
Probable line-ups
AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Dekker, Penetra, de Wit, Kasius, Clasie, Mijnans, Poku, Parrott, Lahdo
Fenerbahce: Livakovic, Osayi-Samuel, Soyuncu, Djiku, Muldur, Fred, Szymanski, Amrabat, Tadic, Dzeko, Saint-Maximin
Anything else catch the eye?
Jose Mourinho is known for his defensive tactics and his style has proven effective once more in his new team. But this is a Europa League clash and the home side is desperate for a positive result after back-to-back defeats to Bilbao and Tottenham.
Five out of AZ's six home matches this season ended with both teams scoring goals, and each was also an over. Winning in the Netherlands is proving to be difficult for Mourinho, as Fenerbahce's recent encounter with Twente ended in a 1-1 draw. We expect a similar outcome here – either a 1-1 or a 2-2 draw at full-time.
This UEFA Europa League match between AZ Alkmaar and Fenerbahce will be played on Nov 7, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best AZ Alkmaar vs Fenerbahce prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
