Despite a commanding 4-1 aggregate advantage from the first leg, AZ showed few signs of sitting back to protect their lead at Rams Park. Günay Güvenç was called into early action when saving Sven Mijnans’ early shot and Davinson Sánchez’s goal-line clearance kept out Kristijan Belić’s strike.
After surviving the visitors’ early onslaught, Galatasaray tried to muster the sort of scoring form that yielded 19 goals in the UEL league phase, and Roland Sallai almost opened the scoring as his skidding low shot prompted a fingertip save from Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
Galatasaray struggled to keep AZ quiet up front and Belić’s dipping volley was tipped over the crossbar by Güvenç, shortly before the Turkish goalkeeper produced more heroics with a full-stretch stop to keep out David Møller Wolfe’s powerful effort.
Eventually, the visitors’ pressure paid off before half time when Ernest Poku dribbled into the area and produced his fourth UEL assist of the season, teeing up Seiya Maikuma for a simple finish past Güvenç.
There was no let-up from AZ and Denso Kasius all but secured De Kaasboeren’s place in the UEL’s last 16 with a deadly 25-yard strike into the top corner.
A late Galatasaray flurry ultimately came too late and Victor Osimhen led the charge by thumping in his sixth UEL goal of the season before Sallai applied a low first-time finish from Barış Alper Yılmaz’s cutback.
Okan Buruk’s Galatasaray always faced an uphill battle to claw themselves back into this tie after a devastating defeat in the first leg, with the Turkish giants now having failed to qualify for European knockout football for a third time in five seasons.
AZ were rewarded with a big aggregate win for their ruthlessness across both legs and Maarten Martens’ team will face either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ernest Poku (AZ Alkmaar)