Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
After sharing the spoils with Kilmarnock in the Premiership opener, Dundee United will look to beat the odds when they face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Conference League second qualifying round. The Terrors are ready for their Conference League debut, and, one thing is for sure, the Scots are going to leave their hearts on the field. Midfielder Peter Pawlett remains on the sidelines with injury, while new boss Jack Ross is eager to help the Terrors claim a major scalp in round 3.
The Eredivisie side, on the other hand, won both legs in the double-header with Tuzla City, but they have yet to kick off the new domestic campaign. Anyhow, AZ are a more experienced side than Dundee United, and we predict that the Dutch are going to emerge triumphant in the first leg. A man to watch in the away team will be Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who opened his goal-scoring account in the 4-0 crushing of Tuzla City.
Highlighted Player (Scott McMann):
Born on July 9, 1996, Scott McMann is a Scottish footballer who plays for Hamilton Academical as a defender. His primary position is a centre-back, but he is used as both left and right back as well. Scott McMann is a product of the Hamilton Academical football academy, and he has been playing for the senior team since 2013.
In 2016 he made seven appearances in the league during his loan spell with Clyde. McMann, who represented both Scotland U16 and U17 teams in the past, wears the number 3 on his shirt. The right-footed defender made his Scotland Premier League debut with Hamilton in a 1-0 win over St Mirren on May 23, 2015.
The Scottish footballer scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win at Clyde in the League Cup on July 17, 2019. Scott McMann wears the number 3 jersey at Hamilton Academical.
Highlighted Team (AZ):
AZ Alkmaar are a professional football club that play their home matches at AFAS Stadion. The venue was opened on 4 August, 2006 and the construction of the stadium cost €38 million. AFAS Stadion is able to hold 17 023 spectators.
The Cheeseheads were founded on 10 May, 1967 and they won their first trophy in 1981, finishing the season 12 points clear of Dutch giants Ajax. 18 years later AZ clinched their second Eredivisie trophy, with the team finishing the 2008/2009 campaign with 80 points, 11 clear of second-placed Twente. In 1981 the club made it to the UEFA Cup final, but English side Ipswich Town proved to be a big catch for the Dutch team.
AZ’s home kits are red and white and they wear black shirts when playing on the road. The likes of Shota Arveladze, Jozy Altidore, Ron Vlaar, Joris Mathijsen, Graziano Pelle, Simon Poulsen, Moussa Dembele and Sergio Romero are notable footballers who played for AZ in the past.