AZ Alkmaar vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-22 17:45.
[p]Despite a three-game unbeaten run (W1, D2) Â in the UEFA Europa League (UEL), AZ Alkmaar only begin this round 19th in the league phase table and a point above the automatic elimination places. Their UEL revival forms part of an 11-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, which includes a 0-0 draw against Utrecht last weekend, marking their third clean sheet in four matches.[/p]
[p]Defensive solidity will be the order of the day once more if they’re to keep an almost perfect home record in the competition (W2, D1) intact, as Alkmaar are still unbeaten here despite conceding in each of those three outings. The arrival of Roma should make their fans feel confident once again given their strong record against Italian sides (W5, D1, L2), a streak which includes two victories against another Rome-based club, Lazio, back in 2023.[/p]
[p]Unbeaten in six competitive matches for the first time this season (W4, D2), it’s fair to say Claudio Ranieri’s reign at Roma has been positive so far. Starting the round with nine points and in 14th place (W2, D3, L1), the Giallorossi can seal a spot in the knockout round play-offs with a win here and, after showing improvements with a four game unbeaten run in the competition ahead of Christmas (W2, D2), a top-eight spot remains in the realms of possibility.[/p]
[p]Roma’s UEL matches haven’t been spectacular so far, as four of them produced less than 2.5 goals, but the arrival of Ranieri appears to have had an impact on this too. There have been seven strikes in the two UEL games within his Roma tenure, while his side’s last six competitive outings saw at least four total goals, so we can seemingly expect some further goalmouth action here.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott was named December’s Eredivisie Player of the Month after he scored three times in his last eight competitive matches – all three strikes arrived after the break. Roma’s Artem Dovbyk will be looking for a fast impact, having scored five goals in his last six matches, with three arriving inside the opening 25 minutes. He also opened the scoring with both his UEL goals this term.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Roma are winless on the road this season in all competitions (D8, L5).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tomáš Vlasák[/i][/p]