AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham predictions: Goals on the cards at AFAS Stadion
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- Tottenham's last five Europa League games have averaged 3.8 goals per game
- Four of AZ's last five Europa League games have produced four or more goals
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
AZ Alkmaar will look to maintain their recent home form when they host Tottenham in the last-16 in the Europa League on Thursday.
Maarten Martens' side have been in fine form at the AFAS Stadion lately, losing only one of their last 12 games in front of their own supporters.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in their last encounter, but they will fancy their chances of causing their hosts problems.
Team news
AZ will be without key creative attacker Sven Mijnans again on Thursday, with the 24-year-old joining teenage winger Jayden Addai on the sidelines. Mexx Meerdink, Ruben van Bommel, and Sem Westerveld are all doubts for the home side.
Tottenham's injury crisis is easing, but Ange Postecoglou still has a mammoth list of unavailable players to contend with. Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Radu Dragusin are all sidelined, while Ben Davies is a doubt, too. Antonin Kinsky, Timo Werner, Fraser Forster, and Sergio Reguilon are all ineligible to feature in the Europa League.
The stats
AZ have scored 12 goals in their five Europa League home games this season, while Tottenham's last three Europa League away games have produced 12 goals.
Over 3.5 goals has been a winner in four of Tottenham's last six competitive away days and four or more goals have been scored in four of AZ's previous five fixtures.
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Prediction
AZ's seven-match unbeaten run came to an end at Heerenveen on Sunday, but their 5-3 aggregate win over Galatasaray in the Europa League play-off round will have buoyed the Dutch side's confidence and neutrals could be in for a treat at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday.
De Kaasboeren's last five matches have averaged 3.6 goals per game and four of them have gone over 3.5 goals, while they have scored 12 times across five Europa League home games this season.
They lost 1-0 away to Tottenham back in October, but round two should be a much more entertaining affair in Alkmaar.
Three of these featured four or more goals, and they face a Tottenham side notorious for their involvement in thrillers.
Two of Spurs' last three Europa League away games have been five-goal thrillers and four of their last six trips in all competitions have featured four or more goals.
Postecoglou's side scored the joint-most goals in the Europa League league phase and AZ were only four behind their visitors with 13 goals in total.
With 12 goals scored and 12 conceded across their last six away days, backing a high-scoring meeting in Alkmaar looks a good choice.
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