AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar Donetsk Predictions

• Shakhtar hold a 3-0 lead
• AZ are unbeaten at home in Europe this season, including qualifiers
• AZ have won their last seven home games

AZ can restore some pride

AZ Alkmaar trail Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 ahead of the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie and reaching the last four is probably beyond the Dutch outfit.

However, the hosts can at least reduce the deficit and the standout bet here is a home win.

Shakhtar were deserved winners in the first leg in Poland last week but a three-goal margin of victory flattered the Ukrainian side a little.

At home, AZ have been close to perfect in Europe this season with six wins and one draw in seven games including qualifiers. They’ve also won their last seven home games.

With a big lead to defend, Shakhtar will be happy to defend in numbers without taking too many risks themselves and they should be able to largely contain their hosts.

A 1-0 home win is the correct score pick as AZ have kept clean sheets in each of their last three home games and Shakhtar won’t commit men forward even if they do fall behind early. The Ukrainian side have lost twice in this competition this season and both of those defeats were by one-goal margins, so they can do enough to qualify even if they are beaten in the Netherlands.