AZ v Elfsborg

AZ vs Elfsborg Preview

Dutch hosts, AZ, have produced an excellent start to the new season as they still remain unbeaten after their opening six games overall, picking up five wins in the process and currently occupying second place in the early Dutch Eredivisie standings, while Elfsborg were involved in a third draw in four games in the Swedish Allsvenskan on the weekend after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home with Hammarby.

AZ have registered early wins this season against Almere City, NEC, RKC Waalwijk, Heerenveen and PEC Zwolle, the latter three victories producing an incredible overall total of 16 goals, so the prospects of further goals being scored here on Wednesday night look very promising indeed.

The bigger picture shows AZ have put together a solid and impressive looking 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions which not only include picking up a total of 14 victories but 13 of these 18 games have also produced three goals or more as well.

Results on home soil at their AFAS Stadion have also impressed as AZ have won 11 of their last 14 matches overall and this sort of form is likely to stand Maarten Martens' side in good stead as they seek to get their Europa League campaign off to a winning start here on Wednesday night.

Elfsborg head into this Europa League opener away from home at AZ on the back of two draws on the trot having been held to stalemates by the likes of Norrkoping and Hammarby in 2-2 and 0-0 draws respectively and both being on home soil at their Borås Arena.

It's been a lengthy journey for the Swedish visitors to even reach the league stage of this season's Europa League competition as they started their campaign way back in mid-July in the 1st qualifying round stage where they registered a crushing 8-2 win on aggregate against Cypriot outfit, Pafos.

Following that opening win at the start of the qualifying stage, Elfsborg have collected subsequent victories against Moldovan outfit Sheriff 3-0 on aggregate, Croatian side Rijeka 3-1 on aggregate and then a tense win on penalties against Norwegian opponents Molde in the play-offs.

In addition, Elfsborg are unbeaten in their last eight outings on the road overall along with picking up five wins in the process, but the bigger picture shows the Swedish visitors have managed to pick up just five wins in their last 14 outings in all competitions including being handed six defeats as well.

AZ v Elfsborg Verdict

Both AZ and Elfsborg head into this opening league match of the Europa League in encouraging form and we should see a few goals here on Wednesday night as a result with perhaps AZ getting the nod.

Therefore, our main bet will be AZ win @ 1.50

Other side bets worth considering:

AZ win & Over 2.5 goals @ 2.10

Correct Score: AZ 2-1 @ 8.50