Prediction: AZ Alkmaar to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/2
Bookmaker: Zetbet
AZ Alkmaar and Levski Sofia will lock horns with each other in the second leg of the Europa Conference League play-off round tie this week. The match between the Eredivisie club and the Bulgarian’s First Professional Football League outfit will be held at the AFAS Stadion and is scheduled to kick off at 6:30pm UK time on Thursday.
AZ Alkmaar
AZ Alkmaar are a major club in the Netherlands that regularly compete for the European places in the Eredivisie table and play in major European competitions. De Kaasboeren finished fifth in the Eredivisie table last season and will be hoping for something similar this time around.
Maarten Martens’s side are third in the Eredivisie table at the moment with seven points from three matches. AZ are only two points behind leaders NEC and second-placed PSV and will be determined to kick on.
AZ are also just a step away from booking their place in the Europa Conference League proper. The team from the Netherlands beat Levski Sofia 2-0 away from home in the first leg of the play-off round and are firm favourites to go through
Team News:
AZ Alkmaar are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Levski Sofia. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro will be in goal for the Dutch club. Denso Kasius, Wouter Goes, Alexandre Penetra and Mees De Wit will be the four defenders. Jordy Clasie, Kees Smit and Peer Koopmeiners will be the three midfielders. Ibrahim Sadiq, Troy Parrott and Isak Jensen will be the three forwards.
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia are one of the biggest clubs in Bulgaria and are hugely successful. The Team of the People have won the national championship a totla of 26 times, the national cups on 26 occasions, and the supercups thrice.
Julio Velázquez’s side finished second in the 2024–25 First Professional Football League. Levski were way off the pace, as eventual winners PFC Ludogorets Razgrad ended up as many 14 points ahead of them.
Levski are also unlikely to progress to the UEFA Conference League proper. That’s because the Bulgarian club lost the first leg 2-0 at home and are unlikely to overhaul that deficit in the second leg.
Team News:
Levski Sofia are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against AZ Alkmaar. Svetoslav Vutsov will be in goal for the visiting team. Aldair, Kristian Dimitrov, Christian Makoun and Maicon will be the four defenders. Gasper Trdi and Asen Mitkov will be the two players in holding midfield. Marin Petkov, Rildo and Radoslav Kirilov will be deployed in attacking midfield. Everton Bala will lead the line for the visiting team.
Key Factors to Consider
- AZ Alkmaar have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
- Levski Sofia have won 3 of their last 5 matches.
- AZ Alkmaar have drawn 1 of their last 5 matches.
- Levski Sofia have lost 1 of their last 5 matches.
- Levski Sofia have drawn 1 of their last 5 matches.
Conclusion
With AZ Alkmaar having won the first leg of the tie 2-0 away from home, it is hard to envisage anything but a comfortable victory for the Dutch club in the second leg.
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/2
Bookmaker: Zetbet
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