Jordy Clasie has recovered just in time to participate with AZ in the play-offs for European football. The midfielder has been absent in recent weeks due to a muscle injury.
Clasie played his last match on March 16 (2-2 against Ajax). After that, he missed the end of the Eredivisie and the lost final for the TOTO KNVB Cup.
Especially in the first weeks without Clasie, AZ performed poorly. He also saw from the stands in De Kuip how his teammates painfully lost to Go Ahead Eagles in the battle for the KNVB Cup.
Due to that defeat, AZ missed out on a ticket for the Europa League and still has to work hard to win a ticket for the second preliminary round of the Conference League. In the semi-final, sc Heerenveen is the opponent first on Thursday.
In addition to Clasie, Troy Parrott and Kristijan Belic will also return to trainer Maarten Martens’ selection against Heerenveen. Parrott scored the opening goal in the final against Go Ahead Eagles, but had to be replaced not much later with an injury.
With a victory over Heerenveen, AZ awaits the final against FC Twente or NEC on Sunday. Each round is over one match and is played in the stadium of the club that finished highest.