FK Jablonec vs AZ Alkmaar Predictions

• Each of Jablonec’s last seven defeats across all competitions came without reply.
• Four of AZ’s last seven victories across all competitions came with a clean sheet.
• Each of AZ’s three group wins came via a 1-0 scoreline.

AZ to win the group with a game to spare

It is all on the line for second-placed Jablonec here, who must win to guarantee that they will keep destiny in their own hands on the final day. However, I am predicting that the Czech outfit will just about fall flat at the penultimate hurdle as they welcome unbeaten roup leaders, AZ Alkmaar. Notably, Jablonec are winless in ten of their last 11 games across all competitions with six ending level.

That woeful run leaves them fighting against relegation domestically, while their competition high return of 27 shots off target informs my prediction that they may fail to score at all here, given their tendency to spurn chances.

On the other hand, AZ will qualify in style if they can at least draw here and I fully expect them to do so after cruising to 1-0 wins in three of their opening four group games. In fact, AZ are also struggling on the domestic front, but they have not let that poor form seep into their continental endeavours, something that the hosts can not boast.

Overall, I expect a low scoring win for AZ given what is at stake for both sides at the business end of this group, a 1-0 win for AZ would also continue the 100% return of under 2.5 goals seen in the three prior iterations of this fixture.