UEFA Youth League final preview: AZ Alkmaar vs Hajduk Split

History will be made on Monday at Stade de Genève when AZ Alkmaar take on Hajduk Split in the UEFA Youth League final.

The lowdown

A seventh different winner in the ninth season of the competition is guaranteed as AZ face Hajduk. In fact, no team from either the Netherlands or Croatia has previously reached the final, and Hajduk are the first side from their country to reach the decider of any major UEFA club competition.

Furthermore, both teams came through the domestic champions path, the first time the final has contained two such clubs (though Salzburg won by that method in 2016/17 and Chelsea were runners-up two years later).

Each of the final hopefuls has accounted for several big names on their way to the decider, AZ seeing off Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0, Barcelona 3-0 and Real Madrid 4-0 before Friday's penalty shoot-out defeat of Sporting CP. Hajduk beat Manchester City and won at Dortmund on penalties prior to their 3-1 semi-final victory against AC Milan in front of a crowd of 7,597 dominated by their fans, who are sure to be back in numbers on Monday.

In fact, Hajduk have never lost over 90 minutes in any of their 13 Youth League since making their debut last season, when they went out on penalties to Atlético in the play-offs.

AZ got to the round of 16 on their bow a year ago, Juventus seeing them off on spot kicks, but the Dutch side have looked supreme this season, in a run parallel to their seniors in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Indeed, Wouter Goes was an unused substitute on Thursday in the Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg against Anderlecht, then flew to Geneva to captain the team against Sporting, both matches won on penalties. AZ's Youth League top scorer Mexx Meerdink converted the winning penalty for the seniors but could return for the U19s on Monday.

Expert predictions from Geneva

Derek Brookman, AZ reporter
AZ coach Jan Sierksma has talked of his team's "mental fortitude" and this was abundantly apparent in the way they battled to a penalty shoot-out victory in the semi-final against Sporting CP. AZ are also technically adept, well organised and very comfortable in possession. Missing centre-back Finn Stam through suspension is a blow, but the Dutch side will nonetheless be confident of rounding off a memorable campaign with a trophy.

Elvir Islamović, Hajduk reporter
Hajduk have always been known for their academy, but this generation is a special one, both in terms of quality and team spirit. I spoke to a few players ahead of the final and they are convinced they can win the trophy and return home as heroes, although for the thousands who came to watch them in the semi-finals in Geneva (and the multitude who will watch them in Switzerland and Croatia in the decider), they are heroes already. Play like they did in the second half against Milan and the glory is theirs.

Views from the camps

Lewis Schouten, AZ midfielder: "A lot of fans came to support [Hajduk in the semi-finals]. I believe they're a tough opponent. But if we just do our thing, it will all work out. The counterattack [is Hajduk's strength]. They play with a low defence and AC Milan weren't able to get through it, so it's important for us to be able to do that."

Wouter Goes, AZ defender: "[Hajduk] are physically very strong and their strong points are long-range shots and counterattacking football. We will look to get the upper hand in the game, and that's something we're good at. It will work out.

"There will be more pressure, of course, but it will also be a totally different match [to the semi-final]. Sporting pressed really high, for example. I think [Hajduk] will play deeper. They will try to capitalise on our mistakes, so we will have to be more focused when we have the ball – try to keep possession – but I think it will be quite a battle. I'm really looking forward to it."

Rokas Pukštas, Hajduk midfielder: "[AZ] are a good team. We just have to counter them and bring our heart. It's a great feeling [to be the first Croatian team to reach a major UEFA club final]. We deserve it for all the work we've done this season, so we're going for more. We kind of have to push [the pressure] aside and just continue."

Marko Capan, Hajduk midfielder: "We are all extremely proud of this achievement, that we've made everyone at the club proud of us, and that we represent Hajduk in such a positive fashion on the European football stage.

"[AZ] are a great team. They showed that by scoring four goals against Real [Madrid], which is no small achievement. They made it through on penalties and that surely gives them a boost in confidence, but we have also knocked out some great names. We have nothing to fear. We're going for the win to win that trophy."