Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 210: Touchdown Italia

Chapter 210: Touchdown Italia

[But let’s not ignore Ajax,] the co-commentator interjected. [Their defense has been rock solid—just two goals conceded all season. AZ Alkmaar might be scoring for fun, but if they want to challenge for the title, they’ll have to find a way past that Ajax backline]

[Absolutely,] Mike nodded. [And it’s not just a two-horse race. Twente, Utrecht, and PSV are right behind, waiting for any slip-up. This season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years]

[Let’s talk fixtures,] the co-commentator said as the screen shifted to the upcoming matches.

***

Key Fixtures – Matchday 8:

Ajax vs. Utrecht

PSV vs. Vitesse

AZ Alkmaar vs. Twente

Feyenoord vs. Den Haag

Heerenveen vs. Heracles

***

[That Ajax-Utrecht clash is huge,] Mike pointed out. [Utrecht are fourth on the table, and if they can pull off an upset, it could shake things up at the top]

[And don’t forget AZ Alkmaar’s match against Twente,] the co-commentator added. [They’ll be favorites to win, but Twente are no pushovers. They have Bony leading the golden boot race, and we know what he’s capable of]

[It’s going to be an exciting weekend,] Mike concluded. [Plenty of football left to be played, and with players like Benjamin Rijkaard in this form, anything can happen]

***

AZ Alkmaar didn’t dwell too much on their 2-4 away victory over RKC Waalwijk. It was a solid win, another three points in the bag, but nothing more than expected.

They were in good form, and their position in the Eredivisie table reflected that—second place, just three points behind Ajax. The gap was small, but they knew it wouldn’t close on its own.

There was no time to relax. Training resumed early Monday morning, with the team already shifting focus to their next challenge: their first Europa League Group Stage match against Udinese Calcio.

The game was scheduled for Thursday, October 4, at 7:00 PM, meaning preparation had to be sharp and efficient.

The coaching staff emphasized recovery, ensuring the players who had featured heavily against Waalwijk were well-rested before pushing them into high-intensity drills.

The schedule was tight, and with travel to Italy set for Wednesday, there wasn’t much room for error. Every session had to count.

Udinese wasn’t going to be an easy opponent. The Italian side was experienced in European competition and had a squad filled with quality.

Playing them at the Stadio Friuli would be a test, especially for some of AZ Alkmaar’s younger players who had never experienced an away European night in such an atmosphere.

Tactically, the team worked on defensive compactness, knowing Udinese would look to exploit any gaps. Set-piece routines were drilled, knowing the importance of dead-ball situations in tight matches.

The forwards were reminded to stay clinical, as chances might be limited against a well-organized Italian defense.

The squad would board their flight on Wednesday, arriving in Udine later that evening.

From there, it would be about settling in, a light session at the stadium, and final preparations.

The focus was clear: get a result in Italy and take control of their European campaign early.

For now, though, it was about putting in the work on the training ground. The next challenge was coming fast, and they had to be ready.

***

The plane touched down smoothly on the runway of Udine’s airport, and the hum of the engines faded as the AZ Alkmaar squad prepared to disembark.

The players filed out one by one, stretching their legs after the short flight, the crisp Italian air greeting them as they stepped onto the tarmac.

Benjamin adjusted the straps of his backpack and followed the group towards the terminal.

The airport staff guided them efficiently, and within minutes, they were moving towards the team bus that was already waiting outside.

Cameras flashed in the distance, a few local reporters taking snapshots of the Dutch side’s arrival.

As Benjamin climbed onto the bus, he slid into a seat near the window. Adam dropped into the seat beside him with a tired sigh, pulling his cap lower over his forehead.

The low murmur of conversation filled the bus as the players settled in, some scrolling through their phones, others chatting quietly about the upcoming match.

Benjamin pulled out his headphones, placing them over his ears before scrolling through his playlist. The beat of 2PAC’s "Ambitionz Az a Ridah" filled his ears, drowning out the surrounding noise.

He leaned his head against the window, his eyes scanning the city as the bus slowly pulled away from the airport.

Udine had a certain charm. The streets were lined with old but beautiful buildings, their rustic structure bathed in the golden hue of the setting sun.

Narrow alleys wound between them, leading to small piazzas where locals gathered around cafés, sipping espresso and chatting in animated Italian.

Scooters zipped through the streets, weaving between cars with practiced ease.

Adam nudged him with his elbow. "Soaking it in?"

Benjamin pulled off one side of his headphones and smirked. "Yeah. It’s different. Has a nice vibe to it."

Adam nodded, glancing out the window. "Italy’s got that feel, man. Football and history everywhere."

The bus rolled past a street where a group of kids kicked around a tattered football. One of them wore a black-and-white Udinese jersey with Di Natale’s name on the back.

Benjamin smiled slightly, remembering when he was one of those kids, playing on the streets of Haarlem, dreaming of moments like these.

As the bus navigated through the city, the chatter among the players turned towards the upcoming match.

Some were discussing Udinese’s lineup, others recalling the past European night in Dagestan against Anzhi Makhachkala. The tension was there, but so was the excitement.

The team bus finally pulled up in front of the hotel, B&B Hotel Udine was the name. A modern structure standing in contrast to the older buildings surrounding it.

The players began filing out, stretching again before grabbing their bags. The coaching staff quickly briefed them on the schedule—dinner, a brief team meeting, then rest.

Training at the Stadio Friuli awaited them the next day. Benjamin slung his bag over his shoulder and followed his teammates inside.