MANCHESTER UNITED vs AZ ALKMAAR
Thursday 12thDecember 2000hrs
Football – Europe Europa League
Pick Manchester United AH-0.25
Bookmaker Bet Victor
Odds: 1.61 (odds taken 02:31 GMT, 12 December )
The final round of matches in the group stages of the Europa League will be played on Thursday night and our next preview features the clash between Manchester United and AZ in Group L as the betting tips continue at Old Trafford.
Manchester Utd vs AZ Live Stats & Betting Odds
Manchester United Prediction – Can Man United extend 100% record at home?
In what is a bit of a ‘dead-rubber’ in Group L, there’s just the matter of deciding the winners of the group as current leaders Manchester United take on Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar at Old Trafford with the hosts looking to preserve and extend their 100% winning record on home turf.
Having lost just 1 of their last 7 matches overall in all competitions which includes recent back-to-back wins against Tottenham (in Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford) and local rivals Manchester City, Thursday night’s hosts, United, will be in confident mood that they can grab another three points in this final Matchday 6 clash.
Manchester United started their Europa League campaign in positive fashion as they went unbeaten in their first 4 matches of the group stages, with wins over Astana and home and away victories over Partizan Belgrade.
Although they were handed their first defeat in the group last time out in a 2-1 loss at Astana, United now return to Old Trafford where they’ve won 9 of their last 11 home ties in the Europa League and will fancy their chances of making it 10 out of 12 this evening.
AZ Prediction – Can AZ still maintain unbeaten tag in Group L?
Thursday night’s visitors, AZ, still remain the only side in Group L yet to taste defeat but this unbeaten sequence in what has been a successful campaign so far for the Dutch outfit is likely to come under close scrutiny at Old Trafford in this encounter.
Recent overall form has been impressive for AZ as the visitors have won 8 of their last 9 matches in all competitions and this includes home and away wins over Astana in the Europa League, while they still remain unbeaten in their last 12 matches in this competition overall.
A 2-2 draw away at Partizan in this season’s Europa League campaign was followed by a resounding 5-0 win at Astana, but having failed to beat Manchester United in their home fixture in a 0-0 draw, they could find it tough going at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Key-Facts – Manchester Utd vs AZ
- Man United have won 9 of their last 11 home ties in the Europa League
- Man United have lost just 1 of their last 7 matches overall in all competitions
- AZ are unbeaten in their last 12 ties overall in the Europa League
Betting Tips Verdict
This is expected to be a close call here with both teams in reasonable enough form, but United may just have the edge here. Using the handicap is advisable as a draw also suits both sides.
