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AZ Alkmaar and Elfsborg kick off their Europa League campaign when they square off at the AFAS Stadion on Wednesday. The hosts have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the new season.
AZ maintained their impressive early-season form with a 2-1 victory over PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie on Saturday. Pascal Jansen's men have five wins from their first six league games and are second in the points table, two points off PSV Eindhoven.
AZ get underway in the new-look Europa League group phase following their fourth-placed finish in the Eredivisie last season.
Elfsborg, meanwhile, secured a shootout victory over Molde in the playoff following a 1-1 aggregate stalemate with the Norwegian outfit.
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Oscar Hiljemark’s side are coming off a goalless draw with Hammarby in the Allsvenskan, where they are sixth in the standings with 38 points from 24 games.
Elfsborg have gone 12 games without defeat, picking up seven wins, since a 2-1 loss to Djurgarden on July 28.
AZ Alkmaar vs Elfsborg Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the very first meeting between the two sides.
- AZ are unbeaten in 18 matches across competitions, picking up 14 wins, since a 5-1 loss to PSV in April.
- Elfsborg have gone eight away games without defeat across competitions, picking up five wins, since July.
- AZ have won all but one of their last eight competitive home matches, with a 3-3 draw with Utrecht in May being the exception.
AZ Alkmaar vs Elfsborg Prediction
AZ have scored a staggering 14 goals in their last three matches, so theh will be oozing with confidence. While Elfsborg have proven tough to crack recently, the hosts boast the firepower needed to get the job done and should secure all three points at home.
Prediction: AZ 3-1 Elfsborg
AZ Alkmaar vs Elfsborg Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - AZ to win
Tip 2: First to score - AZ (The hosts have opened the scoring in nine of their last 10 games.)
Tip 3: Over 10.5 corners - No (There have been fewer than 11 corners in six of Elfsborg’s last seven matches.)
