Shakhtar Donetsk – Alkmaar Tip Conference League, quarter-finals, first leg on Thursday, 09/04/2026 at 21:00
The quarter-final first leg of the Conference League between Shakhtar Donetsk and AZ Alkmaar is just around the corner. While the Ukrainians have found their exiled home in Poland, the Dutch arrive with a steep upward form curve – 9 wins from the last 14 games.
My Shakhtar Alkmaar tip, which was put to the test at a verified betting provider like Interwetten, is Double Chance X2 and currently promises odds of around 1.50.
Since AZ has won four of its last five competitive games and Shakhtar wobbled defensively in the last “home game” against Lech Poznan, I believe that the guests can draw in the worst case.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Alkmaar AI predictions:
Looking at the Conference League duel and the Shakhtar Donetsk Alkmaar AI prediction I have, there are indeed many indications of a success for the Dutch, which is why Sieg AZ is a first-class choice.
The Ukrainians have already shown several weak “home games” in the UECL. The 0-0 draw against Rijeka, but also the 1-2 against Legia come to mind off the cuff. For all those who rely on plenty of action in the penalty area, on the other hand, the bet on Over 2.5 goals at 1.75 is absolutely recommended.
A look at the statistics books finally reveals that an average of over three goals have been scored in the games of both clubs this European season; both offensive lines often operate with their sights open, which makes a low-scoring scan on Thursday rather unlikely.
Predicted chance of winning:
| Victory Shakhtar Donetsk |
Draw |
Victory Alkmaar |
| 37.2% |
27.2% |
35.6% |
A particularly exciting pick is also the option for Alkmaar to score in both halves.
With a total of 175 shots, Alkmaar has the most shots on goal of all teams in the current Conference League main round.
This tremendous offensive force usually creates danger over the full 90 minutes, so that AZ goals both before and after the change of sides would certainly not be impossible with this tendency.
What you need to know about Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Alkmaar betting
- Offensive playing culture at Donetsk: Shakhtar stands for entertainment; in seven of the ten Conference League games so far this season, both teams have scored a goal.
- Fair Play Leaders: The Ukrainians are extremely disciplined defensively; with only 68 fouls committed, Shakhtar has the best number of all teams with at least eight appearances in the main competition.
- Constant pressure from Alkmaar: AZ dominates the statistical offensive categories of the competition; with 175 attempts on goal and 64 corners worked, the Dutch occupy first place in each case.
- Mijnans as a linchpin: In Alkmaar’s offensive, almost all strings run through Sven Mijnans; with six goals and eight assists in all competitions, the captain is the decisive factor in coach Martijn Meerdink’s system.
