Legia vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-13 17:45.
Ahead of the final round of UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group games, the calculations are clear for Legia Warsaw: avoid defeat and qualify for the knockout round play-offs. That would be an ideal bounce back after being knocked out of a domestic cup last weekend, although it will not be easy as the Poles haven’t finished in the top two of a UEFA group stage since reaching the Europa League Round of 32 back in 2014/15.
There is an unlikely scenario in which Legia can still finish top of the group, but they must post a victory and hope Aston Villa lose against last-placed Zrinjski Mostar, whilst also hoping goal difference swings in their favour. Holding up their own end of the bargain doesn’t seem beyond Legia after they posted a solid European home record so far this season (W3, D1, L1), yet a poor history against Dutch opposition (W2, D2, L7) perhaps adds a sense of trepidation ahead of AZ Alkmaar’s visit.
Despite being favourites to do the business here, the pressure is on for AZ as this is simply a case of win or bust. The Cheeseheads travel on the back of a stunning 4-1 Eredivisie win over Almere City to maintain their top-two challenge, and having qualified from their UECL group in each of the last two campaigns, their travelling fans may well expect them to take the victory they need to leapfrog Legia into second place by virtue of their superior head-to-head record.
A marked downturn in UECL away form raises some questions for AZ, with a run of just one defeat from eight away games in the competition being followed up by failing to win five of the following nine ahead of this (W4, D1, L4). Even so, AZ’s 1-0 win in the reverse maintained their perfect record after just two all-time clashes with Polish opposition, the same scoreline posted in both of their UECL group wins in this campaign.
Players to watch: Including qualifiers, Legia’s Ernest Muçi has scored five UECL goals this season, although two of his four scoring appearances in the competition came in 2-1 defeats. As for AZ, Vangelis Pavlidis scored their sole goal in both of their UECL victories this season.
Hot stat: AZ have kept just one clean sheet across their last nine UECL away games (W4, L5).