Champions League draw preview part 6

15 days to go

In the run up to the UEFA Champions League group stage draw on August 27 in Monaco, we will preview one of United's possible opponents each day.

AZ Aklmaar

Not only did this relatively small Dutch team lift the Eredivisie championship last season, but they did so by 11 clear points of nearest challengers Twente. Ajax and PSV barely got a look in.

It was the first time since 1981 that they'd reached the summit, so just being in the Champions League group stages is an hour.

That's not to say this handy outfit won't compete.

They are in Pot 2 of the draw and a trip to their DSB Stadion will prove a stern test for even the most experienced of opponents.

The three-year-old ground only holds 17,023 though, so an away allocation of about 1,000 tickets could be expected for an English team making the trip, sections K and L behind the goal.

That was what Newcastle were given for a UEFA cup match in March 2007.

There are no pubs anywhere near the ground and not much public transport to get to it from the town, which is a good 10-minute drive out of town.



The town itself is in the north of Holland, 30 minutes north of Amsterdam and 15 minutes from the west coast, which faces the east of the UK.

It's a small town and its biggest attraction is the traditional cheese market, which is said to offer the best and widest variety of cheese in all of Europe.

Some of you will be glad to know there's a bustling red-light district and an area packed with pubs and clubs right by the cheese market.

However, most foreign fans stay in Amsterdam and caught frequent train services to Alkmaar.

Ways to get there (prices are approximate and return)

By ferry

Hull to Rotterdam on P&O Ferries for £170 including a two-bunk cabin, taking 12 hours and then a two-hour train for £40.

Newcastle to Amsterdam on DFD Seaways for £130 including a two-bunk cabin, taking 15 hours and then a 30-minute train for £20.

Harwich in Suffolk to Amsterdam on Stena Line for £52 taking seven hours and then a 30-minute train for £20.

By train
Manchester to London in two hours 30 minutes and then London to Brussels by Eurostar followed by an intercity or 'Thalys' train onto Amsterdam. Do the whole trip in eight hours and for £90.

By plane
Manchester to Amsterdam on bmibaby and Flybe for £50
Liverpool to Amsterdam on easyJet, KLM and Air France for £70
Leeds Bradford to Amsterdam on Jet2.com, KLM and Air France for £100
Birmingham to Amsterdam on bmibaby for £80
East Midlands to Amsterdam on bmibaby for £70
London Gatwick to Amsterdam on easyJet, British Airways, Cimber Air and airBaltic for £70
London Luton to Amsterdam on easyJet for £75
London Stansted to Amsterdam on easyJet for £75
London Heathrow to Amsterdam on British Airways, bmi, Qantas and Lufthansa for £115
London City to Amsterdam on British Airways for £125
Bristol to Amsterdam on easyJet for £100
Southampton to Amsterdam on Flybe for £110
Edinburgh to Amsterdam on easyJet and Flybe for £110
Exeter to Amsterdam on Flybe for £135

and then a 30-minute train for £20

Bristol to Eindhoven on Ryanair for £10
London Stansted to Eindhoven on Ryanair for £10

then a two-hour train for £40

You can also fly to any number of other European cities and get the train onwards. These include Brussels, Duisberg and Dortmund.

Fun factor: 9/10
Safety factor: 9/10
Bargain factor: 6/10
Convenience factor: 6/10
Score: 30/40