AZ vs Vitesse
29 May 1330hrs
Football – Netherlands – Eredivisie
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Boylesports
Odds: 7/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 19 May
Vitesse hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg but AZ will be hopeful that that home advantage can turn things around for them as the two clubs chase a place in next season’s Europa Conference League.
Table of Contents
AZ – Can AZ rediscover their best form as they look to overturn first leg deficit?
Whatever happens, Pascal Jensen knows this will be his last game in charge of AZ. Marco Van Basten will be the new head coach at the start of next season – the Dutch striking legend will be watching on keenly hoping that his soon to be employers will be victorious here and secure European football next campaign. The Alkmaar club have to overcome a 2-1 first leg defeat in order to do that, and they also haven’t been in the best of form in recent times.
Thursday’s loss extended their run to just one win in seven games which will be the most concerning factor for Jensen as he prepares the team for the final time having taken over back in December 2020.
Vitesse Preview – Will Vitesse have enough to complete the job over more-fancied opponent?
Vitesse have done well to be in the position of having a lead heading into the second leg of the Europa Conference League playoff final. A sixth place finish meant they had to overcome Utrecht in the semi-final stage, something they managed courtesy of extra-time having been beaten 3-1 in the first leg. Few would have given them a chance of even making this stage at the midway point of their previous tie.
So the fact they come in with a lead courtesy of Lois Openda’s goal in the closing stages of Thursday has got them confident of causing an upset over a team who finished 10 points above them in the regular season.
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The heavy loss away to Utrecht would have been a bit of shock for Thomas Letsch and his players who won nine games on the road – only the top four clubs won more than them, and Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord conceded fewer away goals in this year’s Eredivisie.
At the other end, it’s been Openda who has been the go to man for goals. The Belgian is one away from 20 goals for the season. His importance to the team is underlined by the fact that no other player is in double figures.
AZ vs Vitesse Betting Advice
It all comes down to this game and the chance to play Europa Conference League football for one of these clubs next season. Their appetite would have been whetted with Feyenoord’s run to the final of the competition this year and on the basis of the first leg, there is going to be little to choose between them.
AZ have had the upper hand in this fixture at home. They are looking for a fifth straight win in Alkmaar over Vitesse.
Key Facts – AZ vs Vitesse Betting Tip
- AZ have won just one of their last seven games between the regular season and playoffs
- Vitesse finished 10 points behind AZ on completion of the regular league season
- You have to go all the way back to 2017 for the last time AZ lost at home to Vitesse
There has been plenty of goals in these European playoffs with every side throwing all they have at it. And this should be no different. Four of the five games so far have had at least three goals in them. This should be a fifth out of six.
Best Betting Odds for AZ vs Vitesse
