AZ Alkmaar to face Sparta Prague in UEFA Conference League last 16

AZ Alkmaar will face Czech side Sparta Prague in the last 16 round of the UEFA Conference League. The Alkmaarders found out their opponent in the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, a day after they defeated Armenian side FC Noah 4-0 to advance to the round of 16.

AZ will play the first of two games at home at the AFAS Stadium on March 12. The return at the Stadion Letna will come a week later, on March 19. The stadium has a capacity of over 18,000.

Sparta Prague is the most successful club in the Czech Republic. They have won their domestic title 38 times, along with 16 cup victories. The furthest they have come in major European competitions is the semi-final stage. This occurred twice, once in the European Cup, which is now the UEFA Champions League, and once in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Sparta is currently managed by Brian Priske, who rejoined the club after having managed Feyenoord for the first six months of last season. Priske’s side finished fourth in the Conference League table, which meant that they were able to skip the play-off round, in which AZ defeated FC Noah.

Priske’s side is currently second in the Czech league, seven points behind their city rivals Slavia Prague. AZ, who finished 14th in the first stage of the Conference League, are fifth in the Eredivisie.

AZ has had an inconsistent season thus far, leading to the sacking of manager Maarten Martens in January. Lee-Roy Echtold was appointed as his successor on an interim basis until the end of the season. Thus far, the manager has won two out of his three league games.

The victor of the two games will face either Polish side Lech Poznan or Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk in the next round.