Henry Roldán
After both teams eliminated two of the main candidates to win the tournament in the previous stage, Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar will face each other this Thursday in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Conference League.
Anderlecht defeated Villarreal in a close elimination round that ended 2-1, while AZ Alkmaar dispatched Lazio’s powerful defense 4-2.
This will be the first time both clubs clash since the Europa League round of 16 in 2012, which ended with a victory for AZ Alkmaar. Without further ado, at JefeBet, we bring you the best preview of the first leg match between Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar.
Predictions, Picks, and Betting Odds for the Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar Conference League Quarter-Finals First Leg Game on April 13, 2023
- Where: Lotto Park – Anderlecht, Belgium
- When: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 3:00 PM E.T.
- Moneyline: Anderlecht (+165) / Tie (+220) / AZ Alkmaar (+165)
- Asian Handicap: Anderlecht (-0.25, +115) / AZ Alkmaar (+0.25, -170)
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (+100) / Under (-140)
- Both teams score: Yes (-140) / No (+100)
All odds are provided by Draftkings.
Betting on Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the surprises of this stage after an impressive pass by eliminating Villarreal, one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Despite a season filled with inconsistencies, especially in the Belgian league, where this team is currently ranked ninth and is out of European spots, few thought it could beat the Yellow Submarine, let alone knock it out on Spanish soil.
Since that tie, Brian Riemer’s team has been transformed. Including those two matches, Anderlecht has gone undefeated in six consecutive games in all competitions, and has not conceded a single goal in its last five matches.
Its home form has also been impressive. In seven Conference League games, Anderlecht only lost to West Ham, and in the local competition, it has gone five games without a defeat in front of its fans.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): Bart Verbruggen; Michael Murillo, Zeno Debast, Jan Vertonghen, Killian Sardella; Kristian Arnstad, Amadou Diawara, Majeed Ashimeru; Anders Dreyer, Islam Slimani,
Francis Amuzu.
Betting on AZ Alkmaar
The European season for AZ Alkmaar has been highly successful. Not only did it qualify for the Conference League with ease by playing in the previous stage, but it also comfortably dominated its group and eliminated Lazio in the round of 16.
In fact, during the matches against the Italians, the Dutch team demonstrated its resilience by coming from behind to win both games 2-1. This was no easy feat, considering Lazio’s impressive defense throughout the season.
Likewise, the Conference League has become highly significant for AZ Alkmaar. With six games remaining, it is five points away from third place in the Eredivisie standings, which grants a spot in the Europa League. Therefore, winning the current tournament would secure its place in the competition.
It’s worth noting that AZ Alkmaar has not tied in this European championship. It won 12 of its 14 matches, while the other two were away defeats, both by 1-0. In terms of local championships, the team is the third club with the most points on the road, but it has suffered four losses on enemy grounds this season.
Possible Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mathew Ryan; Yukinari Sugawara, Wouter Goes, Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Milos Kerkez; Tijjani Reijnders, Jordy Clasie; Sven Mijnans, Jens Odgaard, Djordje Mihailovic; Vangelis Pavlidis.
JefeBet Prediction
No doubt, this knockout round features two teams that appear extremely evenly matched on paper, which means that the series should not be completely decided this coming Thursday.
Both teams have some experience in European tournaments and showed in the last stage that they can play good soccer by defeating two favorites in the competition.
Anderlecht is very strong at home, but its inconsistency doesn’t allow us to consider it as favorites. On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar’s offensive prowess seems to disappear at certain moments when it has to travel on the road. Therefore, at JefeBet, we predict that both teams will share the points in this upcoming Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar encounter.
Prediction: Tie (AND 1 – ALK 1).
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