Lazio vs AZ Alkmaar Predictions

• Lazio haven’t conceded a goal in almost eight hours of play.
• AZ Alkmaar are winless across their last nine European knockout games.
• Five of Lazio’s last six competitive home games produced two or fewer goals.

Lazio’s European adventure continues

Looking to emulate city rivals Roma by winning the Europa Conference League, Lazio take on Dutch opponents in a European knockout match for the very first time.

Maurizio Sarri’s men have many a reason to enter this clash full of confidence, having put together an incredible run of almost eight hours without conceding a goal and that includes a 1-0 victory over the runaway Serie A leaders, Napoli.

Such defensive solidity has perhaps came at the cost of entertainment for the neutral though, with each of their last five games resulting with under 2.5 goals. That’s not to mention that unders also landed in five of Lazio’s last six competitive home games.

Can AZ stop the rot?

Whilst AZ will be no pushovers, they enter this five points in arrears of Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord, a side that Lazio already dispatched earlier in the European season. Moreover, AZ are winless in each of their last nine European knockout games, that’s a negative club record that they’re seeking to end.

AZ themselves have played out a few nip and tuck affairs on their travels, with three of their last five competitive trips resulting with two or fewer goals. Watch out for AZ’s swashbuckling full-back Milos Kerkez, he contributed to four of their group stage goals and formerly plied his trade for Italian giants, AC Milan!

Although Lazio are worthy favourites, this is a truly intriguing game with no clear cut winner either way between two in form sides. As such, we’re going for under 2.5 goals in what could be a tight and tense first-leg affair, although we’re siding with Lazio to win 1-0 in the correct score market for smaller stakes.