Read our prediction for AZ Alkmaar vs Antwerp below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between AZ Alkmaar vs Antwerp and you can increase your winnings!
AZ Alkmaar vs Antwerp Prediction & Betting tips
On Thursday evening, from the Grolsch Veste in Enschede, the Dutch-Belgian meeting between AZ and Royal Antwerp awaits us. The interests are huge, because the winner of this diptych assures a starting ticket for the Europa League.
AZ:
Although the Dutch Eredivisie is only three rounds of play, everything indicates that AZ is going to be one of the great seasoners of the season. In particular the three-man vanguard consisting of Oussama Idrissi, Myron Boadu, and Calvin Stengs makes a big impression. Also in Europe the Alkmaarders are doing very well, with a 0-3 victory over the Swedish Hacken, and last week’s 4-0 win over the Ukrainian Mariupol.
Still, the faces in the AFAS Stadium are on thunder. That of course has everything to do with the collapse of part of the roof, which means that AZ will have to play its home games outside of Alkmaar for the time being. For the last two ‘home games’ AZ moved to the Cars Jeans Stadium in The Hague, but due to fear of a confrontation between hooligans from ADO Den Haag / Club Brugge and Royal Antwerp the choice for the squatter of Thursday evening fell on the Grolsch Veste in Enschede. The advantage of the Grolsch Veste is that there is a real grass surface instead of the artificial grass field in The Hague.
Royal Antwerp:
Just like AZ, Royal Antwerp also has a strong seasonal start. The Great Old is already nine points after four rounds in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, and managed to eliminate the not-sick Viktoria Plzen in the previous preliminary round of the Europa League. The European aspirations of the Flemish people hung by the thread last week, but deep in the extension on Czech soil, Dieumerci Mbokani shot his employer to the next round. “We were lucky,” said trainer Laszlo Bölöni. “Our mentality was great, just like our fans’.”
The European return of Royal Antwerp, which is active again for the first time in more than twenty years, is therefore a great success. However, the Flemish people will have to play two top matches to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League at the expense of AZ. The team could have used the support of its fanatical supporters well, but the branch of the Grolsch Veste remains empty on Thursday by order of the authorities. The supporters of Royal Antwerp are furious about this decision and are still planning to travel to Enschede in large numbers.