Vaduz vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 16:45.
When considering that Vaduz are Liechtenstein’s inaugural representatives in a European group stage, they have far from disgraced themselves and their nation despite their chances of progression into the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) knockouts hanging on by a thread. Yet anything short of victory against two-time Eredivisie champions AZ Alkmaar will see that faint flicker of hope extinguished, and that appears a near-unassailable obstacle after alternating between draws and defeats in their first four fixtures (D2, L2).
The Liechtenstein Cup holders ply their trade in Switzerland’s second-tier Challenge League and are at risk of relegation, though picking up two-thirds of their total points tally from a four-game unbeaten run may buoy them ahead of this (W2, D2). Vaduz defeated Austrian and Turkish top-flight sides Rapid Vienna (1-0) and Konyaspor (4-2) as rank outsiders to reach this group stage, so they do possess the ability to shock top sides.
AZ will arrive in Vaduz knowing that a victory would be enough to see them through to the round of 16 with a game to spare should Group E rivals Dnipro-1 fail to win their game later in the evening. With a city population that is almost three times as large as that of Liechtenstein, and a commanding W8, L2 UECL record under manager Pascal Jansen that includes qualifying rounds and an average of 3.25 goals in those eight wins, Alkmaar travel with European pedigree and a formidable attacking arsenal.
Surprise defeats as favourites away to both Apollon (0-1) and Excelsior (1-2) ahead of this clash may urge caution amongst the AZ players, though Jansen was anything but timid in his assessment of the Excelsior result: "The first half in particular was scandalous, far below the level we are aiming for. Both staff and players should be ashamed.". Even so, the Cheese Heads may be quietly confident of bouncing back with a mature performance, having enjoyed a four-game unbeaten run in European away games prior to their recent trip to Cyprus (W2, D2).
Players to watch: Dejan Djokic has proven instrumental in helping Vaduz to open up a six-point gap to the relegation zone domestically, contributing to four goals across their last two wins (G1, A3). Similarly influential for AZ in Europe, Dani de Wit has contributed to half of their UECL group stage goals (G3, A1), but seeks to end a four-game scoring drought in all competitions.
Hot stat: All but two of AZ’s last eight matches across all competitions have produced at least two first-half goals.