Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar - Preview, prediction, team news and lineups | OneFootball

Both previous meetings between these two clubs have produced 1-0 wins for the hosts.

Spurs have won four of their last five home games against Dutch clubs; AZ have lost all nine previous visits to England.

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Preview

After suffering defeat at AFAS Stadion a week ago, can Tottenham Hotspur overturn that narrow one-goal deficit? Last Thursday in North Holland, a freakish Lucas Bergvall own goal, slicing into his own top corner, saw AZ Alkmaar establish a first leg advantage, albeit a very slender one. Thus, it is all to play for, as the pair reconvene in North London.

Given their lowly Premier League position, it's Europa League or bust for Tottenham. At the weekend, Ange Postecoglou's side avoided yet another defeat, fighting back from 2-0 down to draw with Bournemouth. Pape Matar Sarr's cross finding the far corner, before Son Heung-min converted a late penalty, salvaging a share of the spoils. Nevertheless, this leaves the Lilywhites languishing in 13th, ten points adrift the final potential European spot, an insurmountable gap.

In this competition meantime, Spurs ended the league phase in fourth, accumilating ten points out of a possible 12 at home, including beating AZ 1-0 in October. Now though, if Tottenham are to set up a quarter-final date with Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax, they require an even greater margin of victory.

As for AZ Alkmaar, they're seeking to reach the quarter-finals of this tournament for the first time in 11 years, their best-ever run coming in 1981, defeated by Sir Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town in the final. This season, the Cheese Farmers have now won all six Europa League home games, including dumping out Galatasaray in the previous round, albeit they're winless in ten European away matches (excluding qualifiers), losing eight of them, which has to be a concern.

Domestically, Maarten Martens' men were given the weekend off to prepare for this tie, but are currently down in sixth in the Eredivisie, which would represent their joint-lowest finish since 2014, far from guaranteed to be back in Europe next season. Thus, Spurs should be simply too strong at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but you just never know do you?

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Head-to-Head Record

Tottenham Hotspur Team News

The headline team news at the weekend was Cristian Romero's return, featuring for the first time since 8 December, before being replaced on the hour mark by Micky van de Ven, who's also back after a long spell on the sidelines. Meantime, Dominic Solanke came off the bench in Alkmaar, his first run out for almost two months, before suffering a whack which forced him off soon after, albeit he was then deemed fit to start against his former side Bournemouth, completing 90 minutes.

In less good news, Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, following his booking in the first leg, which is a blow. Nevertheless, even though Radu Drăgușin remains sidelined long-term and Dejan Kuluševski is a doubt, Ange Postecoglou certainly has options at his disposal, something of a novelty. Yves Bissouma and Lucas Bergvall would miss the first leg of any potential quarter-final if carded here.

Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup vs AZ Alkmaar: (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Danso, Udogie; Bissouma, Bergvall, Johnson, Maddison, Son Heung-min, Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur Player to Watch vs AZ Alkmaar

Brennan Johnson has 14 goals to his name this season, netting against Qarabağ, Ferencváros and Galatasaray in this competition, likely to be Spurs' main goal threat again here.

AZ Alkmaar Team News

Having been granted a weekend off, there's little reason for Maarten Martens to change much. Ruben van Bommel, Jayden Addai and Mexx Meerdink are all injured.

Meanwhile David Møller Wolfe, Peer Koopmeiners, Jordy Clasie, Kees Smit and Wouter Goes are all one caution away from a ban, albeit AZ would have to get through for that to mean anything.

AZ Alkmaar Player to Watch vs Tottenham Hotspur

Irish international striker Troy Parrott joined Spurs as a 15-year-old, spending seven years at the club before being sold to AZ for around £7m last summer. This has proved to be money well spent, considering he's bagged 17 goals this season, including four in the Europa League, so can he help knock his former employers out?

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction

We're backing Tottenham to get the job done. AZ's recent away form in Europe is alarming, so Spurs should simply have too much quality, albeit it's unlikely to be simple: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 AZ Alkmaar.

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar FAQs - Europa League

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Europa League game on TV channel?

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Europa League game will be available on the following TV channels;

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Europa League game on live streaming?

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar Europa League game will be available on the following streaming services;

What is the date and kick-off time for Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League?

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar takes place on Thursday 13 March 2024, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PST).