Celtic make their way to the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar keen on booking themselves a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage as they take on AZ in the second leg of the playoffs. Read on for our expert tips and predictions.

Celtic ran out 2-0 winners at the Celtic Park last week- Furahashi and Rogic both finding the net. With the former Scottish champions being in the driving seat, the hosts have a daunting task ahead of them on Thursday evening.

UEFA Conference League for AZ Alkmaar ?

AZ Alkmaar has found it hard to get their season going taking into account their first two competitive matches of the new campaign. Pascal Jensen and his troops kicked off the season with a disappointing away loss at Waalwijk in the Dutch Eredivisie. Although they had their moments in the game at Scotland, the scoreline at the top left of the screen is the most important at the end of the day and the Dutch side fell short in that regard. A spot in the UEFA Conference League is all theirs if the second leg doesn't go their way, however, we still expect them to give the Scots a game.

Postecoglu's free-scoring Bhoys are absolutely hell-bent on regaining their title from the hands of Rangers. Although there was a minor blip in their opening match against Hearts, they have won all of the six matches since then, keeping four clean sheets and scoring a whopping 24 goals. Succeeding that huge victory on Thursday was a brilliant performance in the Scottish Premiership in which they put six past St. Mirren who had no answer of theirs. Turnbull, Abada and Edouard all put their names on the scoresheet in a brilliant win for the Greek's troops. Would Thursday's hosts have any answer to Celtic's free-flowing, fast-paced football?

AZ Alkmaar vs Celtic Team News

AZ Alkmaar possible starting XI:

Verhulst; Sugawara, Letschert, Martins Indi, Oosting; Koopmeiners, Midstjo, De Wit; Gudmundsson, Pavlidis, Karlsson

Celtic possible starting XI:

Hart; Ralston, Starfelt, Welsh, Taylor; McGregor, Turnbull, Rogic; Abada, Edouard, Furuhashi

AZ Alkmaar vs Celtic Prediction: 1-2

Celtic head into this game in blistering form and as such would take some stopping. The grass hasn't been as green for AZ Alkmaar given their poor start to the season. We expect the hosts to make a game of it but ultimately, Celtic should progress to the UEFA Europa League group stages.