AZ Alkmaar vs Mariupol Predictions

AZ have the edge after drawing 0-0 with Mariupol in Ukraine but this tie is by no means over and both teams will feel they can still progress through to the next round of the Europa League. The Eredivisie side are the big favourites to qualify now that they have the home advantage but if their guests were to score the first goal, then the odds may well swing in the opposite direction.

The stats all point towards a win and a clean sheet for AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, due to the current form of the hosts and their excellent defensive record. AZ have won three of their last four matches against RKC, Fortuna Sittard, and Hacken and on each occasion, the Dutch side have kept a clean sheet.

AZ have only conceded one goal in their last six matches, a 1-0 friendly defeat to Beerschot-Wilrijk, which is another reason why we believe the hosts will keep a clean sheet on Thursday. AZ have netted nine goals in their last six matches and Mariupol have conceded eight during that same period, with the visitors only managing to keep one clean sheet in those six encounters.

Mariupol are without a win in their last three away games and have lost two of those matches against Kolos Kovalivka and Zorya, while AZ’s last home game ended in a 4-0 victory over Fortuna Sittard. The Mariupol defence proved a tough nut to crack in Ukraine last week but AZ have been performing well in front of goal of late and we expect the Dutch side to score at least two goals in Thursday’s 2nd leg.

We’re confident that AZ Alkmaar will win to nil on Thursday and have predicted a final scoreline of 2-0. The hosts have an excellent defensive record heading into the 2nd leg and we expect Mariupol’s goal-scoring opportunities to be limited. The visitors don’t have the best of defensive records in recent weeks, despite keeping a clean sheet against AZ last time out, so we can’t see the Dutch club failing to hit the back of the next in the 2nd leg.