AZ Alkmaar vs Antwerp Predictions

AZ have been impenetrable at the back this season and cruised through their last qualifying match 4-0 on aggregate against Ukrainian side Mariupol, while Antwerp edged past Viktoria Plzen in extra time courtesy of the away goals rule.

All of the stats and the quality of each teams’ playing personnel point towards a win and another clean sheet for AZ Alkmaar in Thursday’s 1st leg. The hosts are unbeaten in their last six matches after picking up draws away at Mariupol and home to Groningen, and winning at home to Mariupol and Fortuna Sittard and away at RKC and Hacken.

The form of both teams suggests there will only be one outcome on Thursday night as Antwerp have lost their last two away games against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League and Sporting Charleroi in the First Division A, with both games ending 2-1, while AZ have won four of their last six matches scoring thirteen goals and conceding none.

As mentioned above. Az Alkmaar haven’t conceded a single goal in their last six matches, that’s 540 minutes of football without their defence being breached, and at the other end of the pitch they have only failed to score in two of their last six matches and still managed to earn draws from those matches which is an impressive record that is bound to bread confidence within the squad.

AZ are yet to concede in the Europa League qualifiers having put four goals past Mariupol in the last round and three past Hacken before that, while Antwerp won 1-0 at home to Plzen in the last round but suffered a 2-1 defeat away and only qualified via the away goals rule after extra time.

We’re confident that AZ will win to nil on Thursday and have predicted a final scoreline of 2-0. AZ haven’t conceded a goal in the Eredivisie or the Europa League qualifiers so far this season and look very strong at home. Goal scoring hasn’t been an issue for the hosts and with the visitors losing their last two away games AZ will be confident that they can establish a lead and keep another clean sheet ahead of next weeks reverse fixture in Belgium.