AZ Alkmaar vs Vaduz prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-14 16:45.
As the top seeds of UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) Group E, AZ Alkmaar bear a burden of reputation, but they haven’t disappointed yet, with a trio of comfortable aggregate wins during qualifying being followed by a victory over Dnipro-1 on matchday one. Here, they are expected to carry on emphatically, in their maiden clash against opposition representing Liechtenstein – a nation currently lying 186 places below the Netherlands in FIFA’s rankings.
Reinforcing the anticipation of a one-sided affair, AZ posted a perfect return from three UECL group stage home games last year, with no goals conceded. Their Eredivisie home form in 2022 (W7, D4, L2) provides an encouraging accompaniment to that record, with confidence being further boosted by the fact that AZ relinquished a lead just once across those wins.
Hailing from Liechtenstein, a country with an extremely poor international record, no national league and a population barely double the AFAS Stadion’s capacity, will always put Vaduz at a perceived disadvantage. They did little to alter that on matchday one, grinding out a 0-0 draw against Apollon Limassol and registering zero shots on target.
Over on the domestic scene, a four-game winless away run in the second-tier Swiss Challenge League (D2, L2) does no favours for morale either, with both defeats seeing Vaduz concede twice after half-time to underline existing expectations of a late collapse.
Players to watch: Dani de Wit won it for AZ against Dnipro in the group curtain raiser, making two of his last three goals decisive openers. Meanwhile, Tunahan Çiçek will hope to recreate the heroics that toppled Rapid Vienna in the playoff round, proving himself flexible after scoring seven goals from three different positions so far this term.
Hot stat: Despite AZ netting 14 unanswered goals across their last four home wins, none from open play arrived before the 20th minute.