Crystal Palace vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction (Thursday 6th November 2025)

Crystal Palace host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park on Thursday, November 6th, 2025, in a crucial Europa Conference League clash that kicks off at 8:00 PM GMT. Both teams enter this matchday three fixture sitting on equal points, with Palace in 16th place and AZ Alkmaar in 20th position, each having secured one win and suffered one defeat in the competition. The Eagles will be eager to leverage their home advantage and build on recent momentum after bouncing back from their 1-0 defeat to AEK Larnaca with impressive victories against Liverpool (3-0 in the EFL Cup) and Brentford (2-0 in the Premier League).​

Crystal Palace Recent Form Analysis

Crystal Palace enters this fixture with renewed confidence after their back-to-back victories, though their Conference League home record remains a concern with one defeat in their only home European match so far.

Under manager Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have shown mixed form with two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five matches across all competitions. Their recent 2-0 triumph over Brentford demonstrated their attacking capabilities, particularly through Jean-Philippe Mateta who scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth earlier in the campaign.​

AZ Alkmaar arrives in London on an impressive five-match winning streak in domestic competition, including recent victories over Sparta Rotterdam (1-0) and Utrecht (4-1). However, their Europa Conference League campaign tells a different story, with a concerning goal difference of 1-4 reflecting defensive vulnerabilities.

The Dutch side secured their first Conference League victory against Slovan Bratislava on matchday two and will be looking to extend their overall winning momentum to six consecutive games.​

Crystal Palace Team News & Key Players

Crystal Palace will be without midfielder Adam Wharton and striker Eddie Nketiah, both ruled out due to illness and muscle injury respectively. Long-term absentees Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad remain sidelined, though Riad is reportedly only weeks away from returning to training. Defender Chris Richards has recovered from his calf issue and is available for selection. Mateta will lead the line for Palace, with Will Hughes expected to feature in midfield.​

For AZ Alkmaar, striker Troy Parrott has been their standout performer with six goals in just five Conference League appearances, supported by Mexx Meerdink with three goals. Sven Mijnans and Denso Kasius have each contributed two goals to the campaign. Manager Maarten Martens will need his attacking players to overcome their away struggles, having already suffered one defeat on the road in this competition.​

Head-to-Head & Match Prediction

This represents the first-ever competitive meeting between Crystal Palace and AZ Alkmaar, with no historical head-to-head record to reference. Based on current form analysis, statistical trends, and home advantage, a narrow victory for Crystal Palace appears the most likely outcome.

Our predicted scoreline is 2-1 to the Eagles, with both teams expected to find the net given Palace’s offensive capabilities and AZ Alkmaar’s determination to maintain their winning streak. Palace’s compact defensive record (2 goals for, 1 against in the Conference League) contrasts sharply with AZ’s defensive issues (1 for, 4 against), suggesting the hosts have the edge in this encounter.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 – 1 AZ Alkmaar