Comments and predictions for Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar: Devour the away team

Latest Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar team information

Athletic Bilbao's Spain international goalkeeper Unai Simon continues to be out with a wrist injury and is not expected to return until after the upcoming holiday.

This could be a problem for the team, as reserve goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala was sent off in the last game, but he will feature in this game before serving his La Liga suspension.

Yeray will be sidelined with a hamstring injury, Oihan Sancet is also unavailable up front, while veteran midfielder Ander Herrera has a muscle problem.

For AZ Alkmaar, Bruno Martins Indi was injured and suspended for the opening game against Elfsborg, but has returned and is expected to feature. After an impressive four-goal performance against Heerenveen, former Tottenham Hotspur player Troy Parrott has scored in back-to-back games against Elfsborg and Utrecht and is likely to continue leading the attack.

Wouter Goes is not ready to return from injury, while reserve goalkeeper Sem Westerveld is also absent with a knee injury.

Latest expected lineup Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar

Athletic Bilbao:

Agirrezabala; Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta, Unai Gomez; I Williams, Guruzeta, N Williams

AZ Alkmaar:

Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Martins Indi, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Parrott, Van Bommel

Latest football commentary Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar

Athletic Bilbao will feel back in the right place after a surprisingly long absence from continental competition, especially as they qualified seven times in nine years between 2009 and 2018. Ensuring European football returns to San Mames is believed to have been a key factor in Nico Williams staying at the club over the summer, as he looks forward to representing his side at continental level.

Aitor Paredes’ late strike at the Stadio Olimpico earned Athletic a valuable point against Roma in what is shaping up to be their toughest opening group game. Under Ernesto Valverde, the team will have to travel to Turkey twice, but they are confident with four home games to play, against AZ, Slavia Prague, Elfsborg and Viktoria Plzen.

Athletic drew 1-1 with Sevilla last weekend, but in the opposite circumstances to their game against Roma, with Sevilla snatching points in injury time, leaving them outside the top four in La Liga despite having won four of their five games. AZ will be nervous heading to San Mames, given Athletic’s impressive home form. Defeat to Atletico Madrid at the end of August was their only home defeat since the start of last season.

AZ, on the other hand, come into this game with a bit of a disappointment after their unbeaten run from the start of the season was ended. Maarten Martens' side had 19 points from 21 league games, but lost 2-1 at home to Utrecht. They did, however, get off to a flying start in the Europa League, coming from behind to beat Elfsborg 3-2, with Troy Parrott scoring the winner from the penalty spot.

This was only AZ’s third win in 11 Europa League games, and their away form has been a problem, with five straight defeats away from home, including their last three in Spain. While a repeat of AZ’s 1981 final appearance is unlikely, a repeat of their run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2023 would be a remarkable achievement. Athletic rarely stumble at home, and after their impressive result against Roma, they should be competitive in the Europa League this season.

Score prediction Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaaras follows:

• Sportsmole:Athletic Bilbao 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

• WhoScore:Athletic Bilbao 3-1 AZ Alkmaar
• Our newspaper predicts:Athletic Bilbao 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

When and where to watch Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar live?

To watch live the match Athletic Bilbao vs AZ Alkmaar Europa League taking place at 2:00 a.m. on October 4, viewers can watch on K+ Sporthereor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.