AZ – Anderlecht

The Dutch club will put up a fight and provoke a high-scoring encounter

The result of the first leg in the Belgian-Dutch clash highlighted AZ Alkmaar's decline in form. Pascal Janssen's side went into the Lotto Park with equal odds on the first leg of the duel and as favorites to reach the semi-finals. However, Anderlecht defender Michael Murillo scored his first goal of the match midway through the first half, catching the visitors from the Netherlands unawares. Despite the need to get back into the game, AZ Alkmaar did not look to be gaining an advantage in the second half, and even got their second goal. This time it was Ghanaian midfielder Majid Ashimeru who scored his first goal of 2023 to make the scoreline 2-0. Before the return leg, bookmakers had placed the home side as the favourites to win the match, offering odds of 1.74, but Anderlecht's chances of reaching the semi-finals are quoted much higher, at 1.26. Defeat in Belgium extended AZ Alkmaar's unbeaten streak to four games. The last time the Dutch club suffered such a dramatic setback was in October last year. That said, Janssen's side managed to pull themselves together for Sunday's league game against Fortuna and break their unsuccessful streak. AZ Alkmaar thrashed their opponents with a full-back, scoring three unanswered goals. In all likelihood, the home team's coach made the right call. First, AZ Alkmaar's players will have time to recover in three full days before the return leg against Anderlecht. Secondly, the taste of a long-awaited victory will give them confidence. In contrast, the Belgian club lost to Genk after winning the first leg of their quarter-final tie, snapping their unbeaten streak of seven games. The Anderlecht manager took the liberty of deploying a seriously rotated squad for the league game. And this despite the fact that the glorious club is only in tenth place in the league, staying out of contention for a place in the Conference League. The Belgian side have less talent than their opponents. That said, Anderlecht won't be a boy on the road and they'll be able to put up a good fight for both sides.