AZ Alkmaar-Juventus of 5 November 2026
Date of the event:
AZ Alkmaar-Juventus is the matchday-four fixture of the 2026-2027 Europa League league phase, played in the Netherlands on Thursday 5 November 2026. The match drew attention for the presence on the pitch of brothers Teun and Peer Koopmeiners, lining up against each other for the first time in an official match [1][2].
The Koopmeiners brothers' duel
Teun Koopmeiners, a Juventus midfielder, started for the Bianconeri, while his younger brother Peer, captain of AZ Alkmaar, led the Dutch side [1]. The two, born in Castricum, a few kilometres from Alkmaar, grew up together in the Dutch club's youth academy, before Teun left the Netherlands in 2021 for Atalanta while Peer continued his path at Alkmaar through to his first-team debut [2]. Before the match they had never played against each other in an official game, except for a youth friendly years earlier [2].
Home fans displayed a banner reading "Due fratelli, un amore" ("Two brothers, one love"), accompanied by a picture of the two brothers hugging as children [1]. Teun Koopmeiners, born in 1998, told Sky Sport before the match: "It's been my home for many years, it will be a beautiful evening and above all it will be good to see my brother", adding that his family had asked him for almost forty tickets [2]. Peer Koopmeiners, two years younger, said: "It will be special to face a brother in the Europa League, for the family and probably for Teun himself too. I know what it means to the club and the fans and how much he has given. I am proud of my brother, I respect him" [2].
The book written together
The two brothers co-wrote, with the patronage of the municipality of Castricum, a children's book titled "De voetbalbroers, voetballen als een prof" ("The football brothers, playing football like a pro"), dedicated to their childhood in the Netherlands and the path that took them into European football [2].
Related articles: Teun Koopmeiners
Sources
- ANSA Piemonte — 5 November 2026
- TorinoOggi — 5 November 2026