Santa Coloma vs Alkmaar Prediction: Who will turn out to be stronger?

Santa Coloma has passed two rounds of European Cup qualification. But in the third round the Andorrans have a very difficult opponent - AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands. Who will turn out to be stronger?

The team was not the favorite in both Conference League qualification starting rounds. But in the end, Santa Coloma won the right to play against AZ Alkmaar. First, the Andorrans beat Penybont from Wales - 1:1 away, 2:0 (0:0) after extra time at home. Then the team won Sutjeska - 0:2 away, 3:0 (2:0) after extra time on their field. Santa Coloma reached the third round of European Cup qualification for the first time in history, so the Russian coach has already achieved certain success with his new team.

Last season AZ reached the semifinals of the Conference League, where they lost to the future winner of the tournament West Ham United. The team, still managed by Pascal Jansen, starts the new draw with Santa Coloma. In six pre-season matches, Alkmaar has never lost - wins over Bologna (1:0), Southampton (1:0), Bruges (2:1), Lech (4:0); draws with Norwich (1:1) and Shakhtar Donetsk (3:3).

Alkmaar finished fourth in the 2022/23 Dutch Championship, just two points behind bronze medal-winning Ajax.

Dmitri Cheryshev is doing a great job in Andorra, but in the match against AZ Alkmaar, the Santa Coloma side has virtually no chance of success - the difference in class is too significant. Given the very disciplined football of the Andorran team, we are unlikely to see the destruction here, but AZ is likely to achieve victory with a difference of more than one goal. In addition, the quotes on the fact that AZ will not miss look too big. Alkmaar played on zero with much stronger than Santa Coloma opponents - Southampton, Bologna, and Polish Lech. We bet on the Dutch, and not the most productive match.