Napoli vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 19/10/2020, 21:55  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 19/10/2020 at 22:05 in Europa League Predictions

Napoli have had a good start to the season, and will be seeking to extend that in Europe when they host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League Group F clash this Thursday. The two sides have had mixed results in recent matches and going to this game, Napoli have had a lot going in their favor on the pitch more than off it. Recently, they had a walkover handed against them after failing to travel for a game against Juventus and a point chucked off their tally as penalty. On the pitch, in the three matches they have played, they have won all, scored 12 goals and conceded just one. In their most recent outing, Napoli saw off title challengers Atalanta 4-1, having scored all their four goals in the first half and red hot Hirving Lozano for the second straight game scored twice. Nigerian Victor Osimhen also grabbed his opening goal for the club after a good start in Italy and the team from Naples will be charged for this Europa League clash. It wasn’t a very good campaign for Napoli last season but Gennaro Gatusso has stabilized the club well if the early season results are anything to go by. They finished seventh last season, but still managed to beat Juventus to the Coppa Italia and they will be eying more. With an 11-game unbeaten run at home, Napoli won’t be faulted for going to this game the more confident. They have been scoring consistently too; in the last eight home matches, they have scored two or more.

This will be the first time these two sides face off and AZ will have the feel of the underdogs as they travel to Italy. They dropped to the Europa League after a 2-0 defeat by Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League qualifiers. Domestically, they have not been so good, though they remain undefeated in their opening four games. AZ have drawn all of their four matches so far in the Eredivisie. While they have scored in each of their four league matches, they have also conceded heavily this season. From the five matches AZ have played, they have conceded 12 goals, and have scored 10. In their recent matches, AZ have shown a huge lack of defensive discipline, which has seen two of their players sent off in the last two matches. Also, in their last three matches, they have lost comfortable leads to drop points. Most recently, they conceded two goals in two minutes with just four minutes to go, ending it 2-2 with VVV after having led 2-0 in the 24th minute. Before that, they led 4-0 at half time against Sparta Rotterdam but it ended 4-4, that coming after another slip against Fortuna Sittard, where they let go of a 3-1 lead to end it 3-3. They have one win and three losses in their last six away matches, keeping one clean sheet and conceding two or more in the remaining five. The same is their story in Europa League – winless in the last four and having conceded two or more in three of the four.