Football Bet of the Day: Dutch disaster looming for Sarri

Kevin Hatchard
16 March 2023
1 min read

Lazio and Maurizio Sarri are up against it in the Conference League

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We're chasing a third straight winner on Bet of the Day, and Kev thinks Lazio are about to crash out of the Europa Conference League.

AZ have won nine of last 13 at home
Lazio potentially distracted by UCL push

AZ v Lazio
Thursday 16 March, 20:00

We placed our Bet Builder on the back of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, and he carried us home. His double helped Napoli sweep aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

We'll drop down to the UEFA Europa Conference League, because Lazio are looking to rescue their European dream at Dutch club AZ, but they have plenty of work to do.

A strong Lazio side featuring Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto, Pedro and Felipe Anderson went down 2-1 against AZ last week at the Stadio Olimpico, despite taking an early lead. Maurizio Sarri's side didn't exactly light the place up in the previous round against Romanian side CFR Cluj (they won 1-0 on aggregate), and overall they have won just four of their last 11 matches. Given that a Champions League place is within their grasp in Serie A, one wonders just how much the capital club wants or needs to make progress in this competition.

AZ are still in a title race in the Netherlands - they are five points behind the leaders Feyenoord - and their home form is pretty good. Pascals Jensen's side haven't lost a home game inside 90 minutes since a defeat to league leaders Feyenoord back in October, and they have won nine of the last 13 at the AFAS Stadion.

We can back AZ +0 & +0.5 on the Asian Handicap here at 1.8810/11. If the game ends in a draw, we get a half-win, and if the hosts win we get a full pay-out.

You can get a £5 free bet when you place a £5 Bet Builder on Italy vs England on Thursday. You must opt-in. T&Cs apply.