AZ Alkmaar is out of the UEFA cup after losing the second leg 4-1 to Werder Bremen. The first leg ended in a 0-0 draw. ‘This is a real disappointment,’ said trainer Louis van Gaal after the match. ‘I didn’t think we were the lesser team but we still lost 4-1. It’s a real pity.’

Van Gaal was critical of the refereeing, in particular the disqualification of a second AZ goal.
Stijn Schaars returned to the pitch in the second half after a three-month absence with a knee injury only to be taken off after 25 minutes with more injury problems.