Against All Odds: AZ a lay at VVV

The AZ players have struggled this season

AZ Alkmaar are odds-on for their trip to VVV in the Dutch Eredivisie this evening and those watching on Betfair Live Video at 19:00 could be in for an upset as Paul Robinson believes the home side can pick up a result.

VVV are currently down in 17th place in the table after picking up just 15 points from their opening 19 fixtures. Ton Lokhoff's side haven't managed to improve since narrowly escaping relegation last term and they only have a couple of points breathing space from Willem II in the automatic relegation place.

After a brief rally that saw them lose just once in seven matches, including three victories, VVV have suffered defeats in their last two. They began the season in dreadful style at home, gaining only one point from their opening half dozen games. Since then though the club from Venlo have defeated Willem II and Vitesse, drawn with Heerenveen and while they did lose last time against Roda JC, they led 2-0 before a second half collapse.

AZ Alkmaar are having a poor campaign by their recent standards and last year's fourth placed finishers are down in 11th after managing just five victories from 19 matches. They have won two of their last three, but one of those wins came against PEC Zwolle who had to play the final stages of the game with 10 men.

Their record away from the AFAS Stadion isn't exactly stellar. Gertjan Verbeek's men have won just one of their last four and if we look even further back, it's just three victories in their last 15 on the road in the Eredivisie. A further negative for AZ backers is that when these two last met in November, VVV ran out 2-1 winners.  

AZ Alkmaar are very short for a side who have struggled on their travels and while their opponents aren't great themselves, I think it should be quite a tight game. At around the 1.9520/21 mark, I have to make AZ my lay of the day.  

Recommended Bet
Lay AZ Alkmaar v VVV @ 1.9520/21

2013 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 24 pts
Returned: 20.94 pts
P/L - 3.06 pts (after commission)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)