AZ Alkmaar vs Gil Vicente Match Analysis and Prediction

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AZ Alkmaar and Gil Vicente will kick off their battle for a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage on Thursday, when the meet in the first leg of their playoff tie in the Netherlands.

While the hosts saw off the threat of Dundee United in their third-round second leg after a slight scare, Gil Vicente eases past Riga in the previous round.

AZ Alkmaar are bidding to reach the Europa Conference League for the second time after making it to the knockout stage last season, only to lose to Bodo/Glimt in the round of 16.

After finishing fifth in the Eredivisie and defeated Vitesse in the playoff final last year, Alkmaar entered qualifying in the second round and eased through with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Tuzla City.

They then met Dundee United, and after a surprise 1-0 defeat in Scotland, they would quickly turn the tie around, dishing out a 7-0 thrashing on home turf.

Off the back of that prevalent display, Pascal Jansen’s side returned to Eredivisie action at the weekend, and they made it two wins from two league matches with a 3-2 victory away at Sparta Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, Gil Vicente arrive hoping to follow up an impressive season by securing their place in the Conference League group stage, having entered in the third round after a fifth-placed finish in the Portugues top flight last season.

They were drawn against Riga FC and drew 1-1 away from home through Juan Manuel Boselli’s second-half equaliser, before putting up a dominant victory in the second leg.

Now hoping to bounce back from a 1-0 league defeat to Arouca last time out, the Gilistas will bid to cause somewhat of an upset in their trip to the Netherlands ahead of the second leg back at home next week.

AZ Alkmaar vs Gil Vicente head to head

The two teams have not previously met in any competition and this will be their first meeting in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifying playoff-round tie.

AZ Alkmaar latest home form

AZ Alkmaar have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their eight most recent matches. They defeated Dundee United 7-0 in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded just two.

AZ 2-2 PAOK 06/07/22

AZ 1-0 Tuzla City 21/07/22

AZ 1-0 Bologna 24/07/22

AZ 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles 07/08/22

AZ 7-0 Dundee United 11/08/22

AZ Alkmaar latest away form

AZ Alkmaar have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their four most recent matches. They defeated Sparta Rotterdam 3-2 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded three.

Olympiakos 1-0 AZ 09/07/22

Westerlo 0-1 AZ 16/07/22

Tuzla City 0-4 AZ 28/07/22

Dundee United 1-0 AZ 04/08/22

Sparta Rotterdam 2-3 AZ 14/08/22

Gil Vicente latest home form

Gil Vicente have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They defeated Riga 4-0 in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded just one.

Gil Vicente 1-1 Pacos Ferreira 23/04/22

Gil Vicente 3-0 Tondela 08/05/22

Gil Vicente 2-0 Penafiel 13/07/22

Gil Vicente 1-0 Pacos Ferreira 08/08/22

Gil Vicente 4-0 Riga 11/08/22

Gil Vicente latest away form

Gil Vicente have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their seven most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Arouca in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded 13.

Sporting Lisbon 4-1 Gil Vicente 01/05/22

Viktoria Guimaraes 5-0 Gil Vicente 15/05/22

Vizela 2-3 Gil Vicente 27/07/22

Riga 1-1 Gil Vicente 03/08/22

Arouca 1-0 Gil Vicente 15/08/22

AZ Alkmaar news

Vangelis Pavlidis is set to play an important role in attack for AZ, having already scored five goals and provided four assists in six appearances across all competitions this season.

Tijjani Reijnders and Jordy Clasie will operate at the base of midfield with Bruno Martins Indi, who has boasts 36 Netherlands caps.

Gil Vicente news

Vieira made one change to his starting XI between the second leg with Rica and the defeat to Arouca, and we should again see familiar setup on Thursday.

Fran Navarro will again lead the line after his double in that 4-0 win, while Ali Alipour will also be hoping for a starting role.

Prediction and Odds

Gil Vicente put up an impressive display in their home leg against Dundee United and will feel confident to put up a challenge for AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

However, we see this contest being a step too far and back the hosts to take the lead which they will bid to defend in Portugal.

Odds: 1 2.10 X 2.05 2 2.20