- AZ Alkmaar earned a commanding 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the first leg of their Europa League playoff clash
- The Dutch side took advantage of Kaan Ayhan’s red card in the 51st minute to extend their lead
- The winner of this tie will face either Manchester United or Tottenham in the Round of 16
Key Takeaways:
AZ Alkmaar secured a 4-1 win against Galatasaray in the first leg of their Europa League playoff, taking a major step toward the Round of 16 while leaving their opponents with a difficult task in the second leg.
The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute, as Sven Mijnans curled in a perfectly executed free-kick. Galatasaray responded in the 20th minute, when Roland Sallai struck a powerful shot into the top right corner from the edge of the penalty area.
😍 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐫…✨#AZAlkmaar #azgal #UEL #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/E7z2k8XaBA
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) February 13, 2025
AZ Alkmaar regained their advantage in the 37th minute, with Troy Parrott converting from the penalty spot after Baris Yilmaz fouled Seiya Maikuma inside the box. The visitors’ situation worsened in the 51st minute, as Kaan Ayhan was shown a red card, leaving them with ten men. The Dutch side quickly made use of their numerical advantage, scoring again in the 58th minute through Jordy Clasie, who finished from close range after a well-placed pass from Ernest Poku.
The hosts added a fourth goal in the 66th minute, as David Wolfe capitalized on a rebound after Mijnans’ initial shot was saved, securing a dominant victory.
With this result, AZ Alkmaar holds a strong position ahead of the return leg, while Galatasaray must produce a remarkable comeback in Istanbul to overturn the tie. The winner of this matchup will face either Manchester United or Tottenham in the Round of 16.