West Ham vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction: Will the English club justify their status as favourites?

West Ham will face AZ in London in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final. Will the English club justify their status as favourites?

West Ham

West Ham has failed in the EPL this season, but they have looked good in the European competitions. At home, the Hammers are sad; after 35 rounds, they sit 15th in the standings with 37 points. In the Conference League, they have won 11 games in all 12 Conference matches. In the quarter-final stage, West Ham beat Belgium's Gent (1:1 in the first meeting, 4:1 in return). They then suffered a terrible run of three straight defeats in the EPL, but last time, they notched a vital 1:0 win against Manchester United.

AZ Alkmaar

AZ is the Dutch champion on the international scene, and they do pretty well there. The team is at the top (fourth position in the standings), fighting with Ajax for a place in the Europa League. By the way, Alkmaar met with them in the last round - a zero draw. As for the current Conference League competition, the team beat Italy's Lazio and Belgium's Anderlecht in the play-offs. AZ copes with the Romans without any problems, claiming two 2:1 victories. In the quarter-finals, they lost the first leg (0:2) but regained their place in the second leg after a penalty shoot-out.

Expert Betting Tips

It's no accident that bookmakers believe West Ham are favorites to win. The Hammers are playing some terrific Conference football, and the experienced David Moyes can certainly lead his side to a trophy. There are three steps away - two semi-final matches and a final. The team now plays at home in London, where the fans will give them maximum support at such a critical moment. Their opponents are AZ, who are noticeably inferior in class. They will put up a fight in the Netherlands, but right now, they are unlikely to win. So we suggest a win for the home side with the total under par as the main bet.

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