AZ Alkmaar – Galatasaray

EUROPE: Europa League – Play Off – Round of 32

Teams’ Overall Performance in the Europa League

AZ Alkmaar

• Record (Europa League): 3 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses
• Goals For (GF): 10
• Goals Against (GA): 12
• xG (expected goals): 10.5
• xGA (expected goals against): 12.8
• Average Possession: 48%
• Home Performance: Strong, having lost only two of their last 35 home matches (23 wins, 10 draws).

Galatasaray

• Record (Europa League): 3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss
• Goals For (GF): 19 (the highest in the entire field)
• Goals Against (GA): 16
• xG (expected goals): 18.3
• xGA (expected goals against): 14.2
• Average Possession: 60%
• Away Performance: Didn’t win any of their last six visits to the Netherlands.

Key Player Statistics

AZ Alkmaar Key Players

• Troy Parrott (forward): 16 goals in all competitions, 2 goals in his last two EL matches.
• Sven Mijnans (midfielder): 3 goals, 1 assist in EL, crucial in the attacks.
• Peer Koopmeiners (midfielder): Defensive stability, 31 interceptions in EL.
• Jordy Clasie (captain): 7.2 average performance index, important midfield connector.

Galatasaray Key Players

• Yunus Akgün (attacker): 5 goals in EL, one of the team’s top scorers.
• Dries Mertens (midfielder): 1 goal, 4 assists, creative in attacks.
• Davinson Sánchez (defender): 69% aerial duel win rate, strong in defense.
• Abdülkerim Bardakcı (defender): 53.6% aerial duel win rate, solid defense.

Strengths and Weaknesses

AZ Alkmaar Strengths

✅ Strong home performance
✅ Organized midfield defense
✅ Effective pressing, lots of ball recoveries

AZ Alkmaar Weaknesses

❌ Less effective attacks against stronger opponents
❌ More goals conceded than expected

Galatasaray Strengths

✅ High possession, attacking playstyle
✅ Highly effective attacking lineup
✅ Strong at set-pieces

Galatasaray Weaknesses

❌ Weak defense, many goals conceded
❌ Particularly poor away performance in the Netherlands

Low-Risk Tips

1. Both Teams to Score (BTTS – Yes) – 61% probability
   → Galatasaray scored in every EL game and conceded a lot too. AZ Alkmaar has a strong home record.

Odds: 1.53 – Kelly: 2%

2. Over 2.5 Goals – 59.7% probability
   → Galatasaray’s EL matches averaged 4.3 goals, while AZ Alkmaar also sees a lot of goals in their games.

Odds: 1.63 – Kelly: 2%

Medium-Risk Tip

3. Over 4.5 Cards
   → High stakes, and both teams tend to play tough football.

Odds: 1.53 – Kelly: 1%

Interesting Statistical Findings

📌 Galatasaray scored 19 goals in the EL, the most in the field.
📌 Galatasaray hasn’t won their last 6 matches in the Netherlands.
📌 AZ Alkmaar lost only 2 of their last 35 home games.
📌 Mertens and Akgün can be key players in the Turkish attacks.
📌 Troy Parrott is in top form among AZ’s attackers.

Summary

• AZ Alkmaar is favored to win, but Galatasaray could surprise.
• Goals are expected from both sides.
• For betting, BTTS and over 2.5 goals markets are the safest.
• The number of yellow cards might also be high.