AZ Alkmaar vs Aston Villa predictions: Villans can boost Euro hopes
- Aston Villa have lost just one of their last six games in all competitions
- Ollie Watkins has scored five goals in his last four league games
- Recommended bet: Aston Villa to win and both teams to score
After impressing last season following the arrival of Unai Emery, Aston Villa have continued to catch the eye with their performances so far this season, and will look to take a step forward in their hopes of progressing in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
AZ Alkmaar are next up and while they will be no pushovers in their own back yard, where they have a strong record, Villa look to have the quality and the confidence to leave the AFAS Stadion with all three points.
Team news
Starting with hosts AZ Alkmaar, the hosts will still be without the services of defender Mees de Wit on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old has not featured since the end of August due to a long-term foot injury and the clash with Emery’s Villa comes too soon.
Highly-rated goalkeeper Sem Westerveld is also on the sidelines due to a knee injury, while forward Mayckel Lahdo is suspended following his red card against Legia Warsaw.
Greece international Vangelis Pavlidis has been in top form for Alkmaar and looks set to start up front again for head coach Pascal Jansen.
As for Villa, Emery has no fresh injury concerns following their 4-1 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League at the weekend.
That means that it will only the long-term absentees who will play no part in Thursday's game, with the likes of Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause and Alex Moreno unavailable.
The stats
The goals have been flowing for Aston Villa as they prepare to make the trip to the Netherlands, having scored 11 goals in their last three Premier League games.
Watkins has been in fine form for both the Villans and England, scoring six goals in his last seven appearances for club and country.
Likewise, Alkmaar striker Pavlidis has also been in strong form, with the Greek star finding the back of the net in each of his last six appearances in all competitions.
Prediction
This has the potential to be a high-scoring encounter at AFAS Stadion but one in which Villa can come away with the spoils.
Emery is a master when it comes to European competitions, having won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
The former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss has his Villa side brimming with confidence, as they are currently on a four-match unbeaten run heading into Thursday’s game.
While Alkmaar have the firepower to get on the scoresheet on home soil, Villa might just have the extra quality through the squad to edge this one on the road and boost their hopes of reaching the Europa Conference League knockout stages.
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