FC Astana Vs AZ Alkmaar Betting Tips: Over 2.5 Goals – 7 November 2019

Another goal-laden encounter between the two sides?

FC Astana Vs AZ Alkmaar

Thursday 7 November 2019 – 15:50 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 13/19
Bookmaker: MoPlay
UEFA Europa League Betting – 22Bet

Preview: Scorelines are rarely as one-sided as when these teams last encountered one another, which was two weeks ago in a resounding 6-0 victory for AZ Alkmaar. The Dutch side are now the ones tasked with travelling and could find a completely different proposition awaits them inside Astana Arena in Kazakhstan, the home of FC Astana.

 

FC Astana Vs AZ Alkmaar Live Stats & Betting Odds

 

FC Astana Preview – Are home comforts enough?

No points registered after three games in this group. Just the one goal scored and a goal difference of minus eight. Things have not gone smoothly in Group L for FC Astana, the club from Kazakhstan who have already featured on no fewer than twelve occasions in Europe this season after starting out in the very first qualifying round of the Champions League. Another defeat and their European adventure for this season could be over for good.

On a more encouraging note, their record at home in Europe in 2019/20 is very impressive. Prior to losing 2-1 at home to Partizan, the Kazakhs could boast a perfect record as the home side, winning four of four. A couple of those were useful looking successes as well, winning to nil against CFR Cluj (1-0) and BATE Borisov (3-0), both of whom are clubs which have featured regularly in UEFA Competition in recent times. Moreover, the Partizan result remains their sole loss in their last eleven competitive home games (W10 L1).

The question now is, can these home comforts provide enough of a leveller to bridge a six-goal deficit that separated these two teams when they played one another in the Netherlands? To their credit, Astana could not be accused of dwelling on such a torrid result (losing 6-0 at AZ), showing great character to respond with three successive victories in the Kazakhstan Premier League, all without conceding a single goal. Continuing that form in Europe is the challenge now.

 

AZ Alkmaar Win & BTTS?
21/10

Bet365

 

AZ Alkmaar Preview – Sublime Dutch primed for another victory?

The Dutch side are in sparkling form right now. AZ Alkmaar, who are chasing a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, are commanding favourites to continue this fine spell up against an opponent they well and truly put to the sword in the Netherlands when winning 6-0 two weeks earlier. It was, however, their first win in this group, and with the margin between them in second and the team in third only a single point, their work is far from done.

Drawing their first two encounters, in Serbia with Partizan (2-2) and at home with Manchester United (0-0), means Alkmaar are still very much locked in what would appear a three-way battle for two qualifying spots. Victory here would enhance their prospects. The form of Arne Slot’s side is such that it is difficult envisaging them slipping up. Since thrashing Astana, AZ have won back-to-back league games handsomely, beating both FC Twente (3-0) and PSV (0-4).

No loss in their previous five competitive matches as the visiting side (W3 D2) is also very encouraging, although keeping a clean sheet would appear critical to any hopes they have of winning. Their last five away victories were all accompanied by a clean sheet, failing to win inside 90 minutes whenever they have conceded on their travels this season.

 

FC Astana V AZ Alkmaar Key Facts:

  • FC Astana are pointless in Group L, losing all three matches so far, although have lost just one of their last eleven competitive home games (W10 L1).
  • AZ Alkmaar sit second in Group L, with five points, and arrive in Kazakhstan on a three-match winning run in all competitions.
  • There were no shortage of goals in their previous meeting – six, to be precise – but all went to AZ Alkmaar, who were 6-0 winners in Holland.

 

Betting Summary

No lasting damage was sustained following FC Astana‘s hammering in the reverse encounter, when losing 6-0 to AZ Alkmaar in Holland last time out in this competition. The Kazakhs would follow that rotten result with three successive victories, all earned whilst in domestic action, to restore some much-needed confidence. Need a positive result after losing all three previous group games.

Ruthless the last time these teams met, AZ Alkmaar are in the midst of some scintillating form having won their last three matches by a combined aggregate score of 13-0. One being the eye-catching hammering of PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie, on the road no less. Ideally need to win this game after winning only one of three group fixtures so far. All five away wins (excluding games that went into extra-time) in 2019/20 were ‘to nil’.

AZ Alkmaar are favourites, and perhaps understandably so after convincingly winning their previous engagement. FC Astana, though, are a useful side at home and will be keen to atone for that 6-0 loss. Each of Astana’s previous ten home matches have produced over 2.5 goals, while AZ have been scoring goals for sheer fun lately. Banking on goals appeals, which might be bad news for AZ.