Noah (home)
- AZ Alkmaar and FC Noah Artsakh clash for the first time in history as they square off in this UEFA Conference League 2025-2026 matchup.
- Noah became the first Armenian club to reach the Conference League play-offs with 8 points in the group stage.
- This Thursday’s game is a landmark occasion for Armenian soccer as Noah look to progress in front of their home fans in Yerevan.
- Sandro Perković has instilled a certain level of organisation and set-piece proficiency to Noah, who operate a disciplined, compact system that is well set up to transition and counter in the right conditions.
- Hélder Ferreira and Matheus Aias provide the quality support that Noah need to orchestrate their compact attacks, feeding the goals and set pieces to Nardin Mulahusejnović, their leading goal threat with five in the Conference League.
AZ (away)
- AZ are flying under the radar here, and with good reason.
- Their form coming into this match has been patchy to say the least.
- Leeroy Echteld has AZ playing the familiar possession-based, progressive football that has typified the club under his stewardship, with the ball flying quickly across the wings and through the middle as Sven Mijnans is once again the creative engine for their domestic and European campaigns.
- AZ’s last five games in all competitions saw a 1-1 draw at Ajax, a 3-1 loss to NEC, a 1-0 win away at Telstar, a 1-1 home draw with Excelsior and a 3-1 loss to Zwolle.
- Ibrahim Sadiq on the right-wing should be a thorn in Noah’s side with his pace and directness in front of goal.
Noah
- Nardin Mulahusejnović - leading goal threat with five in the Conference League.
- Hélder Ferreira and Matheus Aias - provide the quality support Noah need to orchestrate their compact attacks and set pieces.
AZ
- Sven Mijnans - the creative engine for AZ’s domestic and European campaigns.
- Ibrahim Sadiq - pace and directness on the right wing, a key attacking threat.
Betting Insights
- AZ Alkmaar are the bookmakers’ favourites at 2.08 to win on Thursday.
- Noah are priced at 3.45 in the same market.
- A draw is priced at 3.65 between these two sides.
- The cool February weather in Yerevan should favour the home side as well as their physicality.
- The Over 2.5 goals bet looks best suited to those expecting an open contest.
Prediction
- AZ’s squad depth and creativity should be enough to edge the result in the 1st leg, but Noah’s home advantage and deadliness in set-pieces means that an upset can never be ruled out.
- The draw has a chance in the full-time result market.
