Celtic
Europa League
Play-offs
Wed , Aug 18 , 2021 20:45
2 - 0
AZ Alkmaar
Celtic
AZ Alkmaar
2 - 0
Celtic host AZ Alkmaar at the Celtic Park (Glasgow) in the final stage of the Europa League qualifications and the match kicks off at 7.45 pm (UK) on Wednesday, August 18. Read our reasons for Celtic vs AZ Alkmaar prediction and betting tips.
A COLOSSAL FIXTURE FOR BOTH SIDES
Celtic are currently going through a period of transition under new manager Ange Postecoglou, but the Greek-Australian tactician is managing to get a tune out of last season’s under-performers as well as his new signings. The Hoops rolled over Jablonec 7-2 on aggregate. to set up this meeting, and we are positive that they will adopt yet another attack-minded approach on Wednesday night. On the other hand, Celtic's opponents AZ Alkmaar went down to a shock 1-0 defeat to RKC Waalwijk on the opening day of the new Eredivisie campaign only days before their trip to Glasgow for their Europa League first-leg clash. Considering that Celtic have been producing excellent displays in the Europa League qualifiers, Pascal Jansen’s troops could easily return home empty-handed.
CELTIC ABOUT TO SEE JUST HOW FAR THEY HAVE COME
It hasn’t exactly been the strong start to the season that Celtic would have been hoping for this term. The Scottish giants have already seen disappointment this season, as they were dumped out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round by Midtjylland. That defeat saw the pressure on the new manager immediately rise, as they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate. Matters weren’t made much easier as Celtic were beaten in the opening weekend of the SPL season by Hearts.
However, it has been much more impressive most recently, as they have won their last four games. Two of those wins came in the Europa League third qualifying round, as they eliminated Jablonec. A 3-0 win in the second leg was achieved, with David Turnbull scoring a brace, and James Forrest also getting himself on the scoresheet. Many believe that Postecoglou has managed to bring this Hoops team forward and unite a previously divided dressing-room. Alkmaar will be the biggest test of that progress.
ALKMAAR IN NIGHTMATRE CELTIC PREP
On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar enter the Europa League at this stage of the competition on Wednesday, but confidence could be low after suffering a defeat in their opening fixture of the Dutch season. They may have given Celtic a huge boost ahead of their Europa League play-off after the Dutch side suffered a shock defeat in their league opener on Saturday - RKC Waalwijk stole all three points from Pascal Jansen's men.
To make things worse for AZ, the loss came after transfer-linked captain Teun Koopmeiners was left out of the starting line-up. AZ have already sold Calvin Stengs to Nice, Myron Boadu to Monaco, and Marco Bizot to Brest this summer, which has brought in £35 million to the Dutch club. However, all that has contributed to the Dutch side’s chaotic preparation ahead of their Europa League play-off first-round trip to Glasgow on Wednesday.
Scroll down for the BettingKick’s Celtic vs AZ Alkmaar prediction!
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The Europa League may not have been the competition that Celtic were hopeful of playing in this season, but they will be hoping that they can make it to the group stage this season. It could be a testing fixture to predict, as both sides have produced underwhelming performances at the start of their respective seasons. However, Celtic would be our pick to win the first leg, as they have at least hit a bit of form in their last four games, scoring 16 goals in their last four fixtures.
BettingKick’s Celtic vs AZ Alkmaar prediction is: Celtic win
4-3-3
4-2-3-1
Celtic
AZ Alkmaar
10.12.2024. | Dinamo Zagreb | VS | Celtic | 0-0 |
D
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07.12.2024. | Celtic | VS | Hibernian | 3-0 |
W
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04.12.2024. | Aberdeen | VS | Celtic | 0-1 |
W
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30.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Ross County | 5-0 |
W
|
27.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Club Brugge | 1-1 |
D
|
23.11.2024. | Hearts | VS | Celtic | 1-4 |
W
|
10.11.2024. | Kilmarnock | VS | Celtic | 0-2 |
W
|
05.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Leipzig | 3-1 |
W
|
30.10.2024. | Celtic | VS | Dundee | 2-0 |
W
|
27.10.2024. | Motherwell | VS | Celtic | 0-3 |
W
|
07.12.2024. | Celtic | VS | Hibernian | 3-0 |
W
|
30.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Ross County | 5-0 |
W
|
27.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Club Brugge | 1-1 |
D
|
05.11.2024. | Celtic | VS | Leipzig | 3-1 |
W
|
30.10.2024. | Celtic | VS | Dundee | 2-0 |
W
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19.10.2024. | Celtic | VS | Aberdeen | 2-2 |
D
|
18.09.2024. | Celtic | VS | Slovan Bratislava | 5-1 |
W
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14.09.2024. | Celtic | VS | Hearts | 2-0 |
W
|
01.09.2024. | Celtic | VS | Rangers | 3-0 |
W
|
04.08.2024. | Celtic | VS | Kilmarnock | 4-0 |
W
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10.12.2024. | Dinamo Zagreb | VS | Celtic | 0-0 |
D
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04.12.2024. | Aberdeen | VS | Celtic | 0-1 |
W
|
23.11.2024. | Hearts | VS | Celtic | 1-4 |
W
|
10.11.2024. | Kilmarnock | VS | Celtic | 0-2 |
W
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27.10.2024. | Motherwell | VS | Celtic | 0-3 |
W
|
23.10.2024. | Atalanta | VS | Celtic | 0-0 |
D
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09.10.2024. | Sligo Rovers | VS | Celtic | 2-3 |
W
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06.10.2024. | Ross County | VS | Celtic | 1-2 |
W
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01.10.2024. | Dortmund | VS | Celtic | 7-1 |
L
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28.09.2024. | St. Johnstone | VS | Celtic | 0-6 |
W
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15.12.2024. | NAC Breda | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-2 |
W
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12.12.2024. | Ludogorets | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 2-2 |
D
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08.12.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Ajax | 2-1 |
W
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01.12.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Heracles | 1-0 |
W
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28.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Galatasaray | 1-1 |
D
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24.11.2024. | Sparta Rotterdam | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-2 |
W
|
10.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Willem II | 1-2 |
L
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07.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Fenerbahçe | 3-1 |
W
|
02.11.2024. | Feyenoord | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 3-2 |
L
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27.10.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Go Ahead Eagles | 2-2 |
D
|
08.12.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Ajax | 2-1 |
W
|
01.12.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Heracles | 1-0 |
W
|
28.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Galatasaray | 1-1 |
D
|
10.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Willem II | 1-2 |
L
|
07.11.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Fenerbahçe | 3-1 |
W
|
27.10.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Go Ahead Eagles | 2-2 |
D
|
19.10.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | PSV | 1-2 |
L
|
27.07.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Atalanta | 2-2 |
D
|
05.05.2024. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | FC Twente | 2-1 |
W
|
26.09.2021. | AZ Alkmaar | VS | Go Ahead Eagles | 5-0 |
W
|
15.12.2024. | NAC Breda | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-2 |
W
|
12.12.2024. | Ludogorets | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 2-2 |
D
|
24.11.2024. | Sparta Rotterdam | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-2 |
W
|
02.11.2024. | Feyenoord | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 3-2 |
L
|
24.10.2024. | Tottenham | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-0 |
L
|
03.08.2024. | Stoke | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 0-1 |
W
|
06.04.2024. | PSV | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 5-1 |
L
|
03.10.2021. | SC Cambuur | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 1-3 |
W
|
23.09.2021. | FC Twente | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 3-1 |
L
|
19.09.2021. | Heracles | VS | AZ Alkmaar | 3-2 |
L
|
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Tucker grew up in London, more precisely in West London. But, unlike many locals, he doesn’t like big and famous teams from that part of the city. Instead, ever since he was a kid, Tucker was passionate for lower divisions. This passion was born when his uncle from Reading took him to the local derby with Aldershot Town when he was 6 and since that moment football was running through his veins. He became a huge fan of the Royals for life, and whenever he could, he goes to Madejski Stadium to enjoy the game. Apart from being a job, his sports knowledge also becomes more than useful when he is betting live on high stakes which is also his passion.