Ararat-Armenia look to escape the foot of the table as AZ Alkmaar visit Yerevan

AZ Alkmaar arrive in Yerevan on Thursday sitting 20th of 36 teams with three points from two league-phase games. Ararat-Armenia have yet to pick up a point and sit 34th, near the bottom of the table, so this is a match the hosts badly need.

Ararat-Armenia’s race to get off the bottom

Points are at a premium for the Armenian side, who are struggling to stay in touch with the rest of the league phase. A home win at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium would lift them off the foot of the standings and give their supporters something to build on.

Form: scoring is the problem

Ararat-Armenia’s season reads DWLL, with four goals scored and eight conceded in four matches. They have found the net in four different phases of games but have struggled to keep a clean sheet, managing just one this season.

AZ have won one and lost one of their opening two European outings, and their away record shows one defeat from one trip.

Team news: thin squads on both sides

Ararat-Armenia will be without P. Ayongo, who is not on the roster for this fixture, while Z. Banjaqui is a doubt with an injury.

AZ face a bigger problem. J. Hornkamp, S. Resink, who is recovering from a knee injury, and K. Smit are all sidelined through injury, while H. Verhulst is also not in the squad.

Our prediction

Ararat-Armenia have the stronger incentive and the home crowd behind them, but their defence has been leaky. AZ’s absences limit their attacking options, and a tight, low-scoring contest looks likely. A narrow home win seems the most natural outcome, with the hosts edging it on the back of their desire to escape the bottom.

Ararat-Armenia 1-0 AZ Alkmaar