AZ's exciting front three essential in Europa League and Eredivisie push

The average age of the Eredivisie remains incredibly young. When, at 27 years of age, ADO Den Haag boast the oldest squad in the league in 2019/20, it's proof that managers are routinely aiming to hand youth a chance. For AZ Alkmaar, they aren't the exception, but the rule. 

At 23.5 years of age, theirs is one of the youngest in the Dutch top tier, that honour bestowed up Heerenveen at 22.4. Arne Slot is placing faith in the young talents at his disposal - Ron Vlaar is the only player on the wrong side of 30 of those to feature in the Eredivisie, and even he has started just seven of 16 league matches - and the youthful coach is being repaid by his squad. 

At 41, Slot is one of the youngest managers in the league and his promotion from assistant manager under John van den Brom to first team boss has proven an inspired decision by the AZ board. After finishing fourth last season, a full 28 points off league leaders and champions Ajax, the Cheesheads are now de Godenzonen's closest challengers in the title race. 

Defeat to Willem II last Friday, followed by AZ's 3-0 win at PEC Zwolle the following day, moved AZ to within three points of Ajax on the table. In Sunday's showpiece matchup, AZ host Ajax with the aim of making it four home wins on the bounce and moving level with the defending champions at the top of the table. 

AZ must not get ahead of themselves, however, as a meeting with Manchester United looms. Both teams are into the next round of the Europa League, but first place is up for grabs in Group L as the duo lock horns at Old Trafford. Both sides played out a 0-0 draw at the AFAS Stadion in October, a game that the hosts deserved to win, summed up succiently in that David De Gea was named the WhoScored man of the match as all four of AZ's shots on target were saved by the Spaniard. 

The Dutch side's favoured front three of Calvin Stengs, Myron Boadu and Oussama Idrissi featured from the off and while they drew blanks that evening, the trio between them have scored 33 of AZ's 53 league and European goals this season (62.3%), though AZ are rocked by the absence of Boadu on Thursday night through suspension. That being said, in 21-year-old Ferdy Druijf, Slot as an able deputy, with the youngster netting twice from the bench in AZ's 2-2 draw with Partizan Belgrade. 

Neverthless, in Idrissi and Stengs on the flanks, AZ aren't expected to be robbed of their attacking verve in Manchester on Thursday night, with the former putting in a man of the match showing at PEC Zwolle over the weekend to come into the clash in a rich vein of form. Boadu's absence is a blow, yes, but the upside is that he will be fit and firing ahead of the title six-pointer welcome of Ajax. 

That in itself will be key for AZ. Only Ajax (52) have scored more goals than AZ (38) in the Eredivisie this season, though the latter have conceded fewer goals (8) than any other Dutch top-flight side. If Idrissi and Stengs can each get their names on the scoreboard against United, it'll do nothing but boost morale coming in Sunday, particularly if they can earn a result against the Premier League side. It could be that both sides endure contrasting fortunes in a vital week of the campaign. 

Ajax were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday and while AZ are already have their spot in the last-32 sewn up, they'll aim to do so as group winners and with Idrissi and Stengs among the top dribblers for AZ in the Eredivisie and Europa League, the duo have the means to stretch their upcoming opponents with ease. With Fredrik Midtsjo pulling the strings from midfield - the Norwegian is making 2.4 key passes per 90 in the Eredivisie and 1.7 key passes per 90 in the Europa League - it's no wonder AZ are the second highest scorers in the Eredivisie and the Europa League's top scorers. 

And it's a testament to Slot's approach to give his young players a chance. Yes, Idrissi and Stengs were both prominent figures for AZ last season, yet the duo have taken their respective games to the next level with Slot at the helm. Boadu has become a regular feature in the XI and it's resulted in, arguably, the most exciting attack line in the Netherlands. 

There's a solid foundation to build upon, too, in the form of experienced duo Vlaar, Stijn Wuytens and 22-year-old Pantelis Hatzidiakos - injuries to Vlaar and Hatzidiakos has seen Jordy Clasie deployed as a makeshift centre-back of late - while a midfield trio of Midtsjo, Teun Koopmeiners and Dani de Wit, provides the ideal blend of ball winning tenacity and creative capability from deep that allows the front three to thrive, which they are doing with aplomb.