Shakhtar Donetsk vs AZ Prediction & BETTING TIPS - 09/04/2026

Shakhtar Donetsk and AZ Alkmaar square off against each other in the Europa League quarter-final first leg, with both sides in strong form but facing some absences. As Shakhtar produce fine displays at home despite playing on neutral location, we predict a 2-0 home win. The Miners will be without defender Alaa Ghram, though he is not a regular starter. The Ukrainian side have been outstanding recently, collecting 2.50 points per game from their last 10 matches, winning 80% of those fixtures. Defensively, the Miners have been exceptional, conceding just 0.3 goals per match and keeping clean sheets in 80% of games, while scoring a consistent 2.0 goals per game.AZ Alkmaar arrive without in-form forward Isak Jensen, which could significantly impact their attack. Despite a solid 2.10 points per game overall, their away form has been inconsistent, with just 0.75 points per game and a 50% failure-to-score rate on the road. The Cheese Farmers concede 1.75 goals per away match, which could be problematic against a disciplined Shakhtar side.