For our AZ Alkmaar vs. Lazio prediction, we're going for a 1-1 draw.
AZ Alkmaar are looking to follow up and impressive result in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last 16 tie and finish the job against Lazio on Thursday.
AZ Alkmaar reached the Europa Conference League last 16 by topping Group E, a group containing Dnipro-1, Apollon and FC Vaduz.
The Dutch side are having an excellent season as they currently sit 3rd in the Eredivisie, just five points off Feyenoord in top spot.
They enter this game amidst a strong run of form, too, having won each of their last four games on the bounce, the most recent of which was a 1-0 win over Gronigen at the weekend.
Their form on home soil has also been strong, with the Dutch outfit winning their last three home games on the bounce.
AZ were underdogs coming into this Conference League tie as they faced a Lazio side having a strong season, but the result in Rome was a big upset and puts them in pole position to qualify for the quarterfinals. It's far from done, but they should feel confident coming into this game.
Lazio reached the Europa Conference League last 16 by finishing 3rd in Europa League Group F, a group containing Feyenoord, FC Midtjylland and SK Sturm Graz.
The Italian side are largely having an impressive season under Maurizio Sarri as they find themselves 3rd in Serie A having notched a number of impressive wins.
They will, though, be mightily disappointed to have lost the first leg of a European last 16 tie on home soil that they entered as favourites, particularly as the first leg followed their most impressive win of the season away at a surging Napoli side.
Lazio will have felt their performance did not warrant a defeat but a second half comeback from the Dutch side means they now have it all to do in the Netherlands on Thursday night.
Their form overall has been mixed of late having won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five matches in all competitions, their most recent of which was a 0-0 draw with Bologna at the weekend.
The draw at Bologna was a second successive disappointing result for Lazio and is one they will have to hope does not signal a forthcoming slump in form.
Their away form is fairy impressive, though, having gone unbeaten in their last five on the road, but having drawn three of those it's nothing to get too excited about.
Winning here is a tough ask for Sarri's side and while it's by no means out of the equation they now enter this game as underdogs.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.
