Drita vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-12-10 17:45.
[p]Drita begin this round just two points from the top of the UEFA Conference League table, a gap they hope to bridge when they take on AZ Alkmaar, a side who struggle on the road in Europe.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Four games into this UEFA Conference League campaign, and with two matches remaining, Drita begin this round on eight points and unbeaten in the league phase (W2, D2). They made it back to back 1-0 wins in Europe with victory over Shkëndija in late November and, ahead of this gameweek, only AEK Larnaca have conceded fewer goals in this league phase than their two. A 1-1 draw in their domestic league on Saturday means Zekirija Ramadani’s side have lost just two of their last 14 competitive matches (W9, D3) and another win on Thursday will guarantee a knockout play-off berth at the very least for the Albanians with a game to spare.[/p]
[p]AZ Alkmaar were also held to a draw at the weekend as they fell even further off the pace in the race to finish in the Eredivisie top two. They’re playing catch-up in the Conference League too, coming into this round two points adrift of the top eight despite beating Shelbourne in the last round. It’s their away form which has proved their undoing as, after being beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace in their last continental road trip, Alkmaar are now without a European group/league phase away win in their last nine attempts (D1, L8).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This is the first H2H between the sides and the first time that AZ will take on Kosovon opposition. Drita’s only previous experience against a Dutch team came during the 2021/22 Conference League qualifiers when they were knocked out by Feyenoord.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Eight of Drita’s last nine European victories have been by a one-goal margin.[/p]
[p]Drita are yet to concede more than one goal in their six Conference League games this term.[/p]
[p]Five of AZ Alkmaar’s last seven competitive games have featured over 3.5 goals.[/p]
[p]AZ are averaging two bookings per game across their last four European fixtures.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Blerton Sheji has been booked in both of Drita’s European league phase games on Kosovan soil this season and also grabbed an assist in round one. Mees de Wit is in fine form for AZ with three goal contributions (G1, A2) from his last four competitive games – his last four club strikes arrived on or beyond the 70th minute.[/p]
[p]Neither side have any availability issues.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With AZ’s away struggles in Europe in mind, we’re backing a Drita win at what looks like a generous price.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Tom Penn[/i][/p]