AZ did not win the last exhibition match for the Champions League match with Viktoria Plzen on Friday. The team of trainer Arne Slot played a draw against Telstar in their own AFAS Stadium: 1-1. PSV also drew in Tilburg against Willem II (1-1).
AZ dominated the game, but it was Telstar that took the lead just before half-time. Benaissa Benamar headed in from close range from a corner on behalf of the club from the Kitchen Champion Division. Teun Koopmeiners signed for the equalizing goal fifteen minutes before the end by using a penalty kick.
AZ was supposed to play a friendly game with Fortuna Sittard on Thursday, but that game was canceled after a positive corona test with the Limburgers. The Alkmaarders found Telstar at the last minute as a new practice opponent.
Calvin Stengs did not participate at AZ on Friday, which also had to do without the ill Fredrik Midtsjø. Stengs was out of circulation for some time due to a muscle injury, but resumed group training this week. Slot expressed the expectation that the attacker will be available against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.
AZ’s match against the Czech top club in the second heat of the Champions League starts on Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. in the AFAS Stadium. The meeting is decided in one game. AZ must defeat a total of three opponents to reach the group stage of the million ball.
AZ did not have a great preparation for the duel with Plzen. The number two of the past Eredivisie season only won from Lille in the practice campaign and went down against KRC Genk, FC Utrecht, PEC Zwolle and AS Monaco.
Despite Malen’s goal, PSV did not pass Willem II
In Tilburg PSV failed to beat Willem II: 1-1. The people from Eindhoven took the lead after more than fifteen minutes via Donyell Malen, who finished after a nice attack that also involved Sam Lammers and Cody Gakpo.
For Malen it was his first goal since December 2019. The striker, who sustained a serious knee injury at the end of last year and had to recover for months, did not score in the first exhibition matches of PSV with SC Verl, KFC Uerdingen and Vitesse.
His hit against Willem II was not enough for the victory, as the Tilburg team made the equalizer in the 76th minute. Substitute Armando Obispo was childishly easily trumped by Vangelis Pavlidis in his own half and he finished coolly.
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PSV did not pass Willem II in Tilburg. (Photo: Pro Shots)
PSV will be back in action on Saturday
Trainer Roger Schmidt played with his strongest team in the first half, although he did not have access to Ritsu Doan, Bruma, Nick Viergever and Noni Madueke in Tilburg. In the second half, players such as Joël Piroe, Ryan Thomas, Jordan Teze, Obispo, Érick Gutiérrez and Michal Sadílek made their appearance.
PSV will come back into action on Saturday and will then play in its own Philips Stadium against Eintracht Frankfurt. The match starts at 6 p.m. in Eindhoven.
FC Groningen went down on Friday evening in the North Holland Westwoud at FC Volendam: 2-0. It must be said that the team of trainer Danny Buijs played the match with many youth players.
The Groningers will play an exhibition game with Almere City with the strongest team on Saturday. There is a chance that Arjen Robben will take action and make his unofficial return as a professional football player.
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