Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
26/10/2023
18:45
Prediction: 1-2
Aston Villa
All eyes will be on AFAS Stadion when AZ Alkmaar and Aston Villa lock horns in the Group E derby. Aston Villa quickly bounced back from a shocking 3-2 loss to Legia, with John McGinn scoring a late winner against Zrinjski and a win over AZ could see the Premier League side climb to top position in the standings. The Villans are brimming with confidence following a 4-1 crushing of West Ham United and even though both Jacob Ramsey and Alex Moreno remain in the recovery room, away win should be considered.
The Eredivisie outfit, on the other hand, recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Legia in their second group game, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against Villa. As Unai Emery is going to field the best possible side this time out, we are tempted to put our money on the visitors. As for the home team, both Mees de Wit and Sem Westerveld have been struggling with injuries of late, while Mayckel Lahdo misses out through suspension.
Highlighted Player (Riechedly Bazoer):
Despite playing for PSV during his youth career, Riechedly Bazoer made his Eredivisie debut with Ajax. The central midfielder who was born on 12 October, 1996 in Utrecht, scored his first goal for Ajax on 15 February, 2015 in a 4-2 victory over Twente.
Four days later he made his European debut with the Amsterdammers, taking part in a 1-0 win over Legia in the Europa League. Bazoer scored five goals in 29 league appearances for Ajax in the 2015/2016 season, but he failed to win the domestic trophy with Frank de Boer’s troops.
Speaking of his international career, Bazoer has two caps for Netherlands U21 team and he made his debut for the first team on 13 November, 2015 against Wales. It has to be noted that he came as a late substitute in the 3-2 victory over the Dragons. Back in 2012 the right-footed midfielder won the UEFA U17 European Championship with the Dutch national team.
Highlighted Team (Aston Villa):
Aston Villa is one of the three clubs that dropped to the Championship at the end of the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign. The Villans host their rivals at Villa Park, the stadium that was opened in 1897 and its’ capacity is 42,682. However, it has to be noted that the highest attendance recorded at the stadium was 76,588 when Aston Villa faced Derby County in the FA Cup back in 1946.
Aston Villa’s fiercest rivals are Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion. Nonetheless, the rivalry between Aston Villa and Wolves and Coventry City is big as well. Aston Villa have won seven First Division (Premier League) trophies, with the team clinching seven FA Cup trophies as well.
The team’s biggest success, though, came in 1982 when they won the European Cup. The Villans defeated Bayern Munich (1-0) in the title game and Peter Withe was named the man of the match.
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
