Young Lions continue Youth League journey
FixturesAston Villa U19 Vs. AZ Alkmaar U19 - Wed, Nov 26th 2025, 13:00 Aston Villa continue their UEFA Youth League campaign at Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday afternoon, hosting AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their third-round clash (ko 1pm). Jimmy Shan’s Young Lions will be looking to progress to the knockout stages of the competition for the second season running, when taking on the Dutch champions in the final stage of the Domestic Champions Pathway. Villa overcame Albanian outfit KF Skënderbeu 7-1 over two legs having entered the competition at the second-round stage, and currently sit 13th in the Premier League 2 table after nine outings. AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, will provide a stern test for Shan’s boys, having reached the semi-finals of last season’s competition, losing to eventual champions Barcelona. Michael van Zijtveld’s side qualified having won their domestic title last season, and also entered at round two this time around, defeating Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps 9-0 on aggregate. Here is information ahead of the clash, on our opponents, their coach and how both sides fared in round two…The opposition Managed by van Zijtveld, AZ Alkmaar are a formidable side at youth level, having qualified for the last five instalments of the UEFA Youth League as Dutch champions. AZ also boast the record of being the only Dutch team in history to lift the UEFA Youth League crown since its inception 12 seasons ago, with a 5-0 victory in the final over Croatia’s Hajduk Split in 2023. Last season, they saw off Strømsgodset and Manchester United in the Domestic Champions route, before overcoming 2022 winners and three-time runners up Benfica, Real Madrid and Manchester City on their way to the semi-finals. It was there that Barcelona, who had knocked out Villa in the last 16, beat AZ, on their way to lifting the trophy for a record third time. The coach Michael van Zijtveld has been at AZ Alkmaar for a number of years, holding several roles within the club’s academy. The 39-year-old has taken charge of both AZ’s Under-17 and Under-18 sides, before taking the reins with the Under-19s – who Villa will be facing – at the start of last season. van Zijtveld claimed Holland’s U19 Division 1 Fall title in his first season, and after 11 games this season, currently has his side joint top of the table, level with Feyenoord on 23 points.Round two AZ eased over their first hurdle of the Domestic Champions route in round two, beating Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps 9-0 over two legs. A comfortable 4-0 win in the first leg in Holland did the damage for Jong AZ, who triumphed 5-0 in Gibraltar to tie up an emphatic aggregate win and secure their spot in round three. Hungarian striker Bendegúz Kovács, 18, netted four goals over the two legs and, with 11 goals in as many league outings so far this season, is a player the Villans will be looking to keep quiet when he and they meet.Last time out Villa’s route into round three was slightly more tricky, at least when taking into account the first leg of their second-round meeting with Albanian champions KF Skënderbeu. Rory Wilson had opened the scoring in the opening period for Villa, before Ben Broggio saw a penalty saved and Ensar Beqiri equalised for the hosts to ensure the tie was finely poised heading into the second leg. But the return at Bodymoor Heath proved much more straightforward as far as Shan’s side was concerned, as a dominant display from start to finish sealed their passage through to the next round. Goals from Wilson (2), TJ Carroll and Jack McGrath had Villa 4-0 to the good inside the opening 37 minutes, before the Scottish striker completed his hat-trick in the second half, and McGrath struck his second of the game to tie up a 6-0 second-leg success and 7-1 aggregate triumph.What's been said VillaTV caught up with Jimmy Shan ahead of the game who, while excited for another challenge, is expecting a stern technical and tactical test from the Dutch outfit…"We’ve spent a number of weeks now without a fixture, so (it will) just give us a different focus in terms of preparing for a game, and looking forward to it. They’re a good team. Tactically, very, very astute, and probably – with the Dutch football and culture – technically very, very good. So, we’re expecting a technical and tactical challenge. They play (in a) very similar way to us, and like us as well, within their shape, and within their system, have some adaptability." - Jimmy ShanTickets Tickets for the first leg at Bodymoor Heath are still available, and you can secure your place by clicking below…Aston Villa v AZ Alkmaar UEFA Youth League Round ThreeBuy Tickets
