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Ludogorets and AZ Alkmaar will trade tackles in a UEFA Europa League fixture on Thursday (December 12th). The game will be played at Huvepharma Arena.
The home side are coming into the game on the back of a comfortable 3-0 victory over Botev Plovdiv at the same venue in the Bulgarian Parva Liga over the weekend. Dinis Almeida, Pedro Naressi and Kwadwo Duah scored a goal each to guide their side to all three points.
AZ, meanwhile, saw off Ajax Amsterdam with a 2-1 home win in the Eredivisie. All three goals were scored in the second half, with Troy Parrott and Mayckel Lahdo scoring for the hosts while Mika Godts pulled one back in the 81st minute.
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De Kaasboeren will shift their focus to the continent, where their last Europa League game saw them held to a 1-1 draw at home to Galatasaray. Ludogorets played out a goalless draw away to Lazio.
The stalemate left the Bulgarian champions in 33rd spot in the standings, having garnered two points from five games. AZ are 19th with seven points to their name.
Ludogorets vs AZ Alkmaar Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Seven of AZ Alkmaar's last eight games across competitions have witnessed goals at both ends, with six games in this run producing three goals or more.
- Eight of Ludogorets' last 10 games have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Ludogorets have won three of four previous games against Dutch opposition (one loss).
- AZ are unbeaten in three head-to-head games against Bulgarian clubs (two wins).
- Five of AZ's last six away games have been decided by a one-goal margin.
Ludogorets vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction
Ludogorets are one of five sides yet to win a game in the Europa League this season and have scored just one goal in five games (the joint-lowest). They have just three games left to extend their stay on the continent but are three points off the playoff places.
AZ Alkmaar, for their part, are the slight favorites in this game and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against Bulgarian opponents. Their games have tended to be expansive affairs and plenty of goalscoring opportunities could be recorded here.
We are backing the visitors to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Ludogorets 1-2 AZ Alkmaar
Ludogorets vs AZ Alkmaar Betting Tips
Tip 1 - AZ Alkmaar to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
