LASK Linz Vs AZ Alkmaar
Thursday 27th February 2020 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 25th February 2020 at 11:30 GMT)
Preview: AZ Alkmaar failed to capitalise on home advantage in the first-leg and were fortunate to scrape a 1-1 draw. That result has LASK Linz in the ascendency, leading the tie by virtue of the away goals rule but confident in the knowledge that their record in Austria during this season’s Europa League has been impeccable so far.
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Table of Contents
LASK Linz Preview – Austrians seeking to maintain 100% record at home?
A 1-1 scoreline over in the Netherlands sets LASK Linz up rather nicely for the return leg in Austria, but it could and probably should have been even better. Forward Marko Raguz saw his deflected hit the back of the net midway through the opening half for his third Europa League goal of the campaign and second in as many games, however, the visitors were denied the win four minutes from the end after conceding a late penalty.
More than merely leading with such little time remaining, LASK will be ruing the many scoring opportunities that went begging. Out-shooting the opposition by 9 shots to 6 (4 each on target), the Austrians were denied on several occasions by a combination of slack finishing and last-ditch goalkeeping. A more clinical display is needed back home then, where they won all three matches en route to topping Group D (W4 D1 L1) ahead of Sporting Lisbon.
Victories over PSV (4-1), Sporting CP (3-0) and Rosenborg (1-0) at their Linzer Stadion in Linz all bode well ahead of Thursday’s encounter, although doesn’t quite align with their efforts domestically. As while the team are perched atop Austria’s top division, their record at home (W5 D3 L2) compares rather unfavourably to that when away (W10). However, last week’s 4-1 hammering of St. Polten would make it one defeat in the last twelve home matches in all competitions (W9 D2 L1).
AZ Alkmaar Preview – Dutch side too porous on their travels?
Despite out-scoring the rest of the teams in their group, AZ Alkmaar could only qualify as a runner-up from Group L. The Dutch side only managed to beat one of their three opponents during this stage of the competition – their two wins coming against an Astana side who finished in last place with a goal difference of -15. Last week’s draw at their Cars Jeans Stadion therefore meant they have still beaten just one opponent in this season’s Europa League.
It could have been worse, though, with Teun Koopmeiners late penalty earning them a fortunate draw that still leaves them trailing on the away goals rule. That was the 21-year-old’s third strike of the tournament as all three came via the penalty spot. None were away from home, though, despite AZ’s three away group games all featuring four or more goals; winning 5-0 at Astana but only drawing 2-2 with Partizan Belgrade, while Manchester United dished out a 4-0 thumping at Old Trafford.
AZ manager Arne Slot is only too aware his side require at least a goal in Austria. In this season’s Eredivisie in Holland, the team are averaging close to two a game on the road (1.82). Meanwhile, seven were netted by them across three said matches during the group phase. So the visitors are clearly capable of making this a better contest than the first leg, when arguably second best. Recent form hasn’t been great, however, with victory over relegation threatened Zwolle last weekend halting a three-game winless run (D1 L2).
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LASK Linz Vs AZ Alkmaar Betting Advice
The sheer fact AZ Alkmaar know they need to score here should only enhance our prospects of witnessing several goals in Austria, because the team from Holland simply have to chase a goal at some stage and this will make them susceptible to conceding. Particularly with LASK Linz so impressive at home in this competition thus far, winning all three home encounters in the group phase by an aggregate of 8-1.
LASK Linz Vs AZ Alkmaar – Key Facts
- LASK Linz topped Group D in this season’s Europa League with a 100% record in home matches, scoring 8 and conceding only once in Austria.
- All three of AZ Alkmaar‘s away matches in Group L produced four or more goals, finishing the section in second behind Manchester United.
- This will be just the second meeting of the two clubs, after the first took place last week in Holland: LASK Linz taking an early lead before a late penalty for AZ Alkmaar restored parity.
Goals were also a regular theme when AZ went travelling in their Group L campaign, with all three away encounters delivering four or more goals. That their only victory in these fixtures was against comfortably the poorest team in their section – and possibly even the entire group stage – does not augur well for them acquiring a positive outcome in Austria. LASK Linz are fancied to complete the job at home, in what will probably develop into a high-scoring contest.
Best Betting Odds for LASK Linz Vs AZ Alkmaar
LASk Linz – 17/20 (Ladbrokes)
Draw – 3/1 (Unibet)
AZ Alkmaar – 17/5 (Sportingbet)