AZ Alkmaar vs West Ham United betting tips: Europa Conference League semi-final second leg preview, predictions, team news and odds
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AZ vs West Ham United odds and betting statistics
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AZ vs West Ham United match preview
Following a rousing comeback in the first leg, West Ham United travel to Alkmaar with a lead, albeit only a slender one.
A week ago, it was AZ who struck first at the London Stadium, doing so on the cusp of half time, when Tijjani Reijnders’ long-range shot proved too hot to handle for Alphonse Areola.
It looked like being a deflating night for West Ham until, mid-way through the second half, they were awarded a penalty, after goalkeeper Mat Ryan caught Jarrod Bowen in the face.
Saïd Benrahma stepped up and calmly slotted home an inch-perfect spot-kick into the bottom right corner.
The winner then came eight minutes later from a corner.
Declan Rice’s impudent dink was headed goal-wards by Nayef Aguerd, cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara, but Michail Antonio was in the right place to poke home.
The Hammers are seeking to reach a first European Final since 1976, beaten at this stage of the Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt 12 months ago.
David Moyes’ men have been pretty much perfect in the Europa Conference League, winning 12 of the 13 matches so far, drawing the other, ousting AEK Larnaca and Gent in the knockout phase so far.
Despite Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium, the Irons are all but safe from Premier League relegation, so all their eggs are firmly in this basket.
AZ’s only previous appearance in a continental final came 42 years ago, beaten 5-4 over two legs in the UEFA Cup Final by Sir Bobby Robson’s Ipswich.
This’ll be the Cheeseheads’ 18th match in Europe of this campaign, having seen off Tuzla City, Dundee United, Gil Vicente, Apollon Limassol, Vaduz, Dnipro-1, Lazio and then Anderlecht.
In the quarter-finals, Pascal Jansen’s team were beaten 2-0 in Brussels, but roared back at home, eventually progressing via a penalty shootout.
Overall, AZ are unbeaten in 23 European home games, dating back over six years, winning all eight this season, scoring 25 goals and conceding just five.
So, will the Dutch side produce a comeback at AFAS Stadion, or will this be a famous night for West Ham?
AZ team news
Pascal Jansen made five changes for Sunday’s 5-1 demolition of Emmen, with all those left out set to return here.
Left-back Milos Kerkez missed the first leg suspended, so will return in place of Mees de Wit.
Star midfielder Dani de Wit, no relation to Mees, and former Stoke centre-back Bruno Martins Indi are both long-term absentess.
In better news, winger Jesper Karlsson came off the bench at the weekend, so could start for the first time in seven matches following a thigh injury.
Striker Vangelis Pavlidis has scored 22 times this season, nine of which have come in the Europa Conference League, including both when they came from 2-0 down to oust Anderlecht in the quarter-finals.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Sugawara, Beukema, Chatzidiakos, Kerkez; Clasie, Reijnders, Mijnans, Odgaard, Karlsson; Pavlidis.
West Ham United team news
David Moyes meantime made nine changes at Brentford on Sunday, with only Nayef Aguerd and Tomáš Souček keeping their places.
Here though, he’s likely to name the same XI that started the first leg.
Saïd Benrahma has established himself as a key player in recent weeks, taking his tally to 11 for the season from the penalty spot a week ago.
Kurt Zouma suffered a foot injury at Crystal Palace not so long ago, but has made a speedy recovery, so will continue at centre-back.
Michail Antonio will lead the line, chosen over Danny Ings, while Gianluca Scamacca is injured.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Areola; Kehrer, Aguerd, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Souček, Paquetá; Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.
