AZ Alkmaar vs Noah prediction and betting tips February 26, 2026

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: 26 February, 2026, 08:30 AM

AZ Alkmaar host Noah today in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League tie. They'll be looking to overturn a first-leg deficit after the minimal loss in Armenia last week. The Dutch side were expected to take control of the matchup, but instead now find themselves under pressure at home. Meanwhile, Noah continue to write a remarkable European campaign, despite a pause in their domestic league.

AZ's chances of reaching the Europa League spot through the Eredivisie look increasingly slim. Even a Conference League place is far from secured. That makes this competition even more important for them. Many in Alkmaar see the first-leg loss as a frustrating accident rather than a reflection of quality. Read on for a closer look at team form, key factors, and the best betting tips for this match.

It's been a complicated season for AZ Alkmaar. That instability eventually cost Maarten Martens his managerial job in January. Since Lee-Roy Echteld stepped in as interim coach, the team has shown signs of life. A solid 1-1 draw against Ajax and progression past Twente in the Dutch Cup suggest there is still quality in the squad. Still, being fifth in the Eredivisie is not where AZ expected to be, especially when the team was considered one of the favourites in the Conference League.

In the UECL, the team picked up three wins and finished with ten points in the league phase. Their overall European run shows they can go far, as long as they avoid costly mistakes like the one in Armenia last week.

There is some positive news in the club. Midfield leader Kees Smit has returned to action, giving the side much-needed balance in the centre of the pitch. Mateo Chavez is also available again after serving his suspension.

Noah have already made history this season. The Yerevan side debuted in the Champions League qualifiers last summer and even managed to eliminate Buducnost before falling to Ferencvaros. Their Europa League campaign ended in disappointment after two draws with Lincoln, eventually losing on penalties.

However, the Conference League has been a good place for the Armenian outfit. Noah produced a balanced league-phase run with two wins, two draws and two defeats. Home wins against Rijeka and Legia played a big role in their success. They also earned important away draws against Universitatea and Aberdeen. These results helped Noah reach the play-offs and become the first Armenian club to ever achieve this in European competition.

The shock 1-0 win over AZ in the first leg underlined their ability to compete against stronger sides. There are concerns ahead of the return leg, though. Nathanael Saintini and Gustavo Sangare both picked up injuries in that match. The extent of their problems remains unclear, and both are doubtful for the second leg in Alkmaar.

• These teams have met only once before. Noah won the first leg at home thanks to a sole goal by the 35-year-old defender Hovhannes Hambardzumyan.
• AZ Alkmaar have lost just one of their last ten home matches in all competitions.
• Noah have scored in four of their last five Conference League matches.

It is hard to imagine Noah pulling a second win against AZ, especially away from home. They will probably focus on staying compact and frustrating the hosts, hoping to catch them on the break. However, this should be a very different game in Alkmaar. AZ should dominate the ball and take more risks in attack after last week's setback. The Dutch side have enough quality to win comfortably. We predict AZ Alkmaar to cover the -1.5 goal handicap at 1.82.

A slightly riskier option is AZ to win to nil at 2.10. However, AZ's home strength and Noah's defensive setup could result in a clean-sheet victory.

Another betting angle would be under 9 corners at 2.25. The first meeting produced just six total corners. With Noah expected to sit deep again, numbers could stay low.

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