AZ Alkmaar v West Ham tips: Europa Conference League best bets and preview
With a slender first-leg lead to protect, it could be backs against the wall for West Ham at AZ Alkmaar. James Cantrill picks out two best bets.
Football betting tips: Europa Conference League
2pts AZ Alkmaar to have 5+ corners at 10/11 (bet365)
1pt AZ Alkmaar to have 7+ corners at 3/1 (bet365)
West Ham came from behind to win the first leg 2-1.
A penalty from Said Benrahma and an instinctive finish from Michail Antonio means they head to the continent with a toe in the final.
At 3/10 to qualify, they have a 76.9% chance of progressing on Thursday, but David Moyes’ knows it is not a foregone conclusion.
AZ Alkmaar have only lost one of their eight European home games against English sides, although that defeat did come against Moyes’ Everton back in 2007.
The Hammers manager made nine changes in his side's 2-0 defeat at Brentford on Sunday, with Tomas Soucek and Nayef Aguerd the only two players to start both matches.
It would not be a surprise to see an unchanged side from the one fielded last Thursday.
The balance of the tie means, barring an early Cheeseheads goal, the hosts must go for it at some point, and this could see them rack up the corners.
Domestically, against the sides above them in the Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar have averaged 2.6 per game, they also failed to register any in the reverse.
However, bet365’s price of 10/11 for them to have 5+ CORNERS looks large.
In the Hammers' last two away legs in the Europa Conference League, Gent had eight corners and AEK Larnaca had 14.
They have shipped five a game in the Premier League but, excluding their trip to the Etihad, in their last five away games, they have conceded seven or more.
Since the beginning of March, their opposition have had 7+ CORNERS in each of the nine matches on the road, so the higher line looks like a runner as well.
You can find these bets via bet365's bet builder.
AZ Alkmaar v West Ham best bets and score prediction
- 2pts AZ Alkmaar to have 5+ corners at 10/11 (bet365)
- 1pt AZ Alkmaar to have 7+ corners at 3/1 (bet365)
Score prediction: AZ Alkmaar 0-1 West Ham (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)
Odds correct at 1230 BST (17/05/23)
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