Austria Wien out to recover lost AZ points

FK Austria Wien let two points slip at AZ Alkmaar on matchday three and will be eager to make amends when the sides meet again in UEFA Europa League Group G. Previous meetings • In the clubs' first contest, a Dirk Marcellis own goal (19) and an Alexander Gorgon strike (29) gave the visitors a shock half-time lead which they relinquished following a Peter Hlinka own goal (80) and a Pontus Wernbloom effort (83). AZ captain Niklas Moisander was sent off at the death (90+2). • In AZ's only previous game against Austrian opponents, they lost 2-0 at SK Sturm Graz in a 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage meeting. • Prior to their matchday three meeting with AZ, Austria Wien's four matches against Dutch opponents ended W3 D0 L1 (W1 D0 L0 at home). Those results include a 1989/90 UEFA Cup second leg against AFC Ajax which was abandoned after 104 minutes due to crowd trouble, with the score at 1-0 to Ajax on the night and 1-1 on aggregate. The game was subsequently awarded as a 3-0 win for Austria. Match background • Prior to matchday two's 2-1 win at Malmö FF, Austria had not won in 15 UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage games (three draws and 12 defeats) since a 2-1 victory at FC Utrecht in their final fixture of the 2004/05 group stage. • Austria had gone six games unbeaten at home in Europe (four wins, two draws) before their 2-1 loss to FC Metalist Kharkiv on matchday one. • AZ have not won in 13 away games in Europe (five draws and eight defeats) since a 1-0 UEFA Cup victory at FC Paços de Ferreira on 20 September 2007. Team facts • Austria have scored all five of their group stage goals in the first half, three of them between the 16th and 30th minutes. • Austria need four more goals to reach 300 in UEFA club competition; this will be their 215th UEFA game, their first being a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in a 1960 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie. • AZ's Joey Didulica retired from football ahead of matchday three after struggling with persistent head and neck injuries. The Australian-born goalkeeper joined the club in 2006 following a spell at Austria, where the former Croatian international was a regular for three seasons. He helped his side win the 2005 Austrian Cup and a domestic double the following campaign. • AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek spent most of his playing career as a defender at sc Heerenveen (1984-94) barring a season on loan at Heracles Almelo (1986-87). He has twice coached Heracles (2001-04 and 2009-10) either side of stints in charge of Heerenveen (2004-08) and (very briefly) Feyenoord (2008-09). AZ brought him in at the start of the 2010/11 campaign. • Austria's coach Karl Daxbacher racked up almost 400 league appearances as a player for the club he now manages, winning seven titles and four Austrian Cups, as well as featuring in the 1978 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, which his side lost 4-0 to RSC Anderlecht. He has coached his old team since 2008, winning the Austrian Cup in his first full season in charge.