AZ vs Aston Villa predictions ahead of this Europa Conference League clash on Thursday night. Aston Villa, gaining momentum under Unai Emery, aim to maintain their pace as they challenge AZ Alkmaar in a demanding Europa Conference League encounter. Read on for our free Europa Conference League predictions and betting tips.
Match Live Thursday, 26th October at 5:45 pm In:
AZ Alkmaar vs Aston Villa Predictions
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European Ambitions Collide
Key Stats
– Evangelos Pavlidis of AZ Alkmaar: 14 goals in 16 appearances
– Average goals per game: AZ Alkmaar (2.8) vs Aston Villa (2.6)
Under the management of Unai Emery, Aston Villa are experiencing a renewed vigour. With a remarkable streak of four victories and one draw in their recent Premier League matches, the Villans are on an upward trajectory. Such has been their dominance that there are whispers of them vying for a spot in the illustrious Champions League.
Their recent 4-1 rout of West Ham exemplified their prowess, with Ollie Watkins, once again, proving his worth. However, Villa’s journey in the Europa Conference League hasn’t been without its hurdles. After a devastating defeat against Legia Warsaw, they redeemed themselves with a late goal against Zrinjski Mostar, courtesy of John McGinn.
AZ Alkmaar’s European Venture
Drawing parallels with Villa, AZ Alkmaar too has had its share of highs and lows in this European competition. Their defeat to Mostar was followed by a significant victory against Legia Warsaw on their home turf. In their domestic league, Alkmaar’s form has been nothing short of extraordinary. Sitting just two points behind the frontrunner PSV Eindhoven, their recent victories against giants like Ajax bolster their confidence as they prepare to face Villa.
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Crunching the Numbers
Both teams are expected to continue their goalscoring forms. AZ Alkmaar’s attacking line, averaging 2.8 goals per game, is spearheaded by Vangelis Pavlidis, who has already netted 13 goals this season. On the other hand, Villa, averaging 2.6 goals per match, showcases their depth with contributions from Watkins, Douglas Luiz, and Moussa Diaby.
Midfield battles could be the decider here. With players like Jordy Clasie for Alkmaar and Douglas Luiz for Villa, cards are likely to be shown, given their aggressive styles of play.
Key Match-Ups and Gameplay
The crux of the game might be decided in the midfield. Jordy Clasie and Douglas Luiz, two aggressive players, will be pivotal in swinging the game in their respective teams’ favour. Furthermore, Evangelos Pavlidis, Alkmaar’s in-form striker, against Villa’s defence, particularly Ezri Konsa, is a duel that could set the match alight.
Considering the attacking nature of both teams and their penchant for high-scoring games, it’s probable we’ll witness a goal-fest.
Managerial Critique
While Emery has revamped Villa, instilling a newfound confidence, his strategy in rotating players for European games is questionable. Such inconsistency might hamper their European aspirations. On the other hand, Pascal Jansen’s ability to motivate AZ Alkmaar, especially after losses, is commendable. However, he needs to ensure they don’t get complacent against bigger teams.
Predictions and Recommendations
1. Match Outcome Prediction: Given Villa’s recent form and the momentum they carry, a win for them seems plausible. However, considering Alkmaar’s domestic run, a draw is also on the cards, making the odds favourable for a ‘draw’ in the win-draw-away market.
2. Scoreline: A high-scoring draw, possibly 2-2, is a likely outcome given the teams’ recent goal-scoring exploits.
3. Goalscorer: Evangelos Pavlidis of AZ Alkmaar is in scintillating form. Betting on him to score anytime during the match seems a reasonable gamble. On Villa’s side, Leon Bailey, who recently came off the bench to score against West Ham, might be another player to watch.
4. Corners: With an average of 7.3 corners per game for Alkmaar and 6.1 for Villa, it’s likely that both teams combined could notch up over 13 corners in total, with Alkmaar possibly edging out Villa in this department.
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