For our Anderlecht vs. AZ Alkmaar prediction, we're going for a 1-1 draw.
We have an intriguing clash in the Europa Conference League quarterfinals on Thursday as Belgian side Anderlecht take on Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.
Anderlecht reached the quarterfinal of the Europa Conference League by claiming an upset victory over La Liga side Villarreal in the last 16, winning 2-1 on aggregate with a 1-0 away win in the second leg following a 1-1 draw the first time around.
The Belgian side are having a tough season domestically as they sit 9th in the league table, a whopping twenty-five point shy of Genk at the top of the table.
Regardless, their poor domestic form has fortunately not translated to Europe as they're having an impressive campaign in the Conference League.
They enter this game in good form overall, too, having gone unbeaten in their last six matches while winning four of their last five.
Their most recent outing saw them held to a 0-0 draw at home to Westerlo last time out.
Anderlecht have been excellent defensively of late with that draw at the weekend marking their fifth consecutive clean sheet.
Their form at home hasn't been the best though, with the Belgian club winning two and drawing three of their last five games on home soil.
Anderlecht are the underdogs in this tie but they won't let the odds deter them after defying them in the last 16. Anything can happen here but they cannot afford to lose the first leg.
AZ Alkmaar reached the quarterfinal of the Europa Conference League by springing an upset on Serie A side Lazio by winning both legs 2-1.
AZ are having a solid season as they sit 4th in the Dutch Eredivisie, but they do enter this game amidst a down period of form having drawn one and lost two of their last three matches.
Their most recent game saw them beaten 0-1 at home to Sparta Rotterdam, a result that marked their first home defeat in the league since October.
Their form away from home has been fairly solid of late having won two of their last three on the road, but having lost their most recent away game to FC Twente there is some concern heading into this game.
AZ have been excellent in Europe this season having won ten of their last eleven matches, including their last four on the bounce, so they should be confident heading into what is a tricky tie here. They need to put their domestic form behind them and given their performances in Europe this season we're backing them to do just that.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.
