AZ Alkmaar have opened up a six point lead at the top of Eredivisie and the Dutch team are also tipped to shine in the Europa League on Thursday.
AZ travel to take on Austria Vienna in the reverse fixture from a fortnight ago and a win will put the visitors within touching distance of the last 16. It ended 2-2 in Holland but AZ rallied from losing two early goals and were well on top at the finish.
A 1-0 win at Heracles last time out, their fourth away triumph in six top flight matches this season, extended AZ’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 matches and despite the draw when these two met at the AFAS Stadion they are clearly the superior outfit.
We saw on Wednesday night that the Dutch league is pretty strong at present when Ajax thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 in the Champions League and AZ will have their eye on contesting Europe’s premier club competition next term. An extended run in the Europa League this season wouldn’t do any harm however and they are lively outsiders in the outright.
Having scored 16 goals in their previous eight away matches, AZ will fancy their chances tonight and will be buoyed by their opponents poor defensive record. Vienna have kept just one clean sheet in their previous 14 matches in all competitions and also enter the match in patchy form.
Just one win in five for the hosts doesn’t bode well for their chances of success and, knowing that victory is essential, they could well be caught on the counter-attack. Swedish youngster Rasmus Elm has seven goals to his name already this season for AZ and this clash should feature a host of chances at both ends.
At a shade of odds against, AZ have to be the bet and I’m getting stuck into the Dutch with a hefty wager.
4pts Back AZ (vs. Austria Vienna) @ 2.15 (Stan James)