AZ Alkmaar vs Viktoria Plzen Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 23/08/2020, 17:28  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 23/08/2020 at 18:28 in Champions League Predictions

The 2019-20 Champions League is finally over and we can now focus on the 2020-21 competition. It's already started and we are now in the second qualifying round as AZ Aalkmaar host Viktoria Pizen. The ties at present are one-off matches so home advantage is more important than ever. AZ finished second in the cut short Dutch league that failed to crown a champion. That was a shame for AZ as they were only behind Ajax on goal difference. The Dutch side are in the Champions League for the first time in ten years when making the group stages. Recent years has seen them in the Europa League but not since 2014 when reaching the quarter finals, have they made it past the last 32. Home form for AZ has seen them lose just one of their last ten games in European competition. 10 out of 13 home league games were won last season, so this is going to be tough for the visitors.

Viktoria Pizen have just started their domestic league in the Czech Republic. Just one game played so far and that resulted in a 3-1 home win over Opava. Two seasons ago they made it through to the group stages of this competition. Last season wasn't so successful though as they lost at this stage of the Champions League losing 4-0 on aggregate to Olympiakos. Transferred to the Europa League, they lost in the third qualifying round to Antwerp. Only two of their last 15 Champions League games have been won and just one of the last seven on the road. AZ can be backed to get the win here.