Decent wee spell of possession for United as Dylan Levitt skips past his man then skims a pass out wide to Tony Watt.

Runs out of play, however.

Good stuff again from Charlie Mulgrew, who cuts out a dangerous cross at the near post.

Assume that won't be his last involvement...

Sounds like a crackin' atmosphere in the AZ Stadion. Proper European ground.

Big roar from the travelling fans as Charlie Mulgrew makes a good sliding challenge out wide.

Michael Stewart
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Scotland

HERE. WE. GO.

The main man Antonio Mateu Lahoz blows the first whistle and we're under way in Alkmaar.

Image source, SNS

Here come the players...

Plenty of taps aff in the United end. Nae wonder.

• Both sides have reached one European final - AZ losing to Ipswich Town in the 1981 Uefa Cup and United being beaten by IFK Gothenburg in the climax to the same tournament six years later.
• This is United's first tie in European competition since 2012, when they were thumped 5-0 in the second leg away to Dinamo Moscow after a 2-2 draw at Tannadice in the Europa League third qualifying round.
• AZ reached last season's Europa Conference League last 16, losing to Bodo/Glimt.
• United have twice played Dutch teams in European competition - beating PSV Eindhoven 3-1 on aggregate in the 1982-83 Uefa Cup first round, but losing 5-0 on aggregate to Vitesse Arnhem in the 1990-91 Uefa Cup second round.
• AZ have faced Scottish sides twice previously in European competition - beating Rangers 1-0 at home in the 2004-05 Uefa Cup group stage but losing 3-2 on aggregate to Celtic in last season's Europa League play-off qualifier.

Dutch football expert Finley Crebolder, founder of the Clockwork Oranje podcast, is not confident AZ Alkmaar can turn the tie around.

"AZ Alkmaar should win," he told BBC Scotland. "PSV v Rangers maybe doesn't have a favourite, but this match AZ were the heavy favourites and really should be going through, but I'm not sure.

"I watched a bit of the first leg and they were so poor, so I can see Dundee United getting a goal on the counter and increasing their lead.

"I think AZ have the quality to go through. If I had to make a prediction I would say they will, but I think it will be a lot closer than a lot of people expect."

Almost four decades on from their last victory in the Netherlands, can United do it again?

The thumbs are there for a reason...

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Alkmaar

AZ striker Vangelis Pavlidis has called on his international team-mate, Celtic's Giorgos Giakoumakis, as the Dutch side aim to down United.

"I asked him some things about Dundee United, I spoke to him last week, he explained some things, it was good," said Pavlidis.

The Greek striker, however, expects a different game on tonight after losing the first leg 1-0.

"It was a difficult game in Scotland, their support waited for this game, it was an important game for us too, we didn't play good and we need to change a lot of things," added the forward. "It will be a very different game."

John Rankin
Former Dundee United midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Dundee United striker Steven Fletcher says the team will use their travelling support as motivation for tonight's second leg.

"It's good for us that 2,000 fans are travelling," Fletcher said during Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

"They've spent their money to come and support us. We'll use that as a driving force."

Image source, SNS

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Alkmaar

AZ head coach Pascal Jansen is "very confident" his team will progress against United, despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

The Dutch side reached the last 16 of the competition last season and it's a stage AZ believe they belong.

"We are very confident we are going to get the job done, but football is football," said Jansen. "I know for a fact Dundee United will give us a big battle, that is something we learnt from the game last week.

"We think we have a spot in Europe always, but you have to fight for it every season - we're going to give it everything we have."

Remember, the winner of this tie will face either Riga or Gil Vicente in the play-off round.

The Portuguese side are favourites after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Latvia.

We'll keep you updated with that score tonight.

Craig Easton
Former Dundee Utd midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Dundee United boss Jack Ross explains the thinking about handing a debut to left-back Aziz Behich, who had to wait for a work permit after his summer move from Turkish club Giresunspor.

"Physically, from what he produces in training, he is ready and I think he's robust anyway, tough, and in terms of the nature of the game, he's played in a lot of big European and international matches," the United boss tells BBC Scotland.

"It is not an easy game to come into, but I've put a lot of trust in him and that's why I brought him to the club. He's focused and ready to go."

Ross reveals that on-loan Wigan Athletic midfielder Jamie McGrath will be moved out wide as Ian Harkes returns to the starting line-up.

Image source, SNS

Unlike United, AZ followed up last Thursday's result with a domestic victory.

The Eredivisie side began their league season with a 2-0 win at home to Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday.

Winger Myron van Brederode scored in his first start for the senior side after Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis had broken the deadlock.

A repeat of that scoreline tonight would send the Dutch club through.

Dundee United boss Jack Ross tells BBC Scotland: "We are in a beautiful stadium tonight against a top-class team backed by a huge away support.

"When these kinds of opportunities come up, you have to embrace them - you only get one football career.

"They are excited by that and they are looking forward to it. If they put in a performance that reflects their ability, I'll be happy."

Image source, SNS

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer