Verdict: Away win
Finest odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Tottenham Hotspur journey to the Netherlands on Thursday to face AZ Alkmaar on the AFAS Stadion within the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Spurs comfortably secured fourth place within the 36-team league section standings, whereas AZ completed nineteenth and needed to navigate a play-off spherical, overcoming Galatasaray 6-3 on mixture to achieve the knockout phases.
AZ Alkmaar
Since their 2-2 draw with Galatasaray within the second leg of their Europa League playoff – following a commanding 4-1 house win – AZ Alkmaar have skilled blended fortunes in home competitors.
They secured a slim 1-0 Eredivisie victory over Fortuna Sittard earlier than reserving a spot within the KNVB Beker closing, overcoming Hercules 4-3 on penalties after an exciting 2-2 attract further time. Nevertheless, their momentum was halted final weekend with a 3-1 league defeat at Heerenveen.
Maarten Martens’s aspect thus squandered a possibility to reclaim third place – an computerized Europa League qualification spot – and now sit sixth within the Eredivisie, trailing the highest three by three factors with 10 video games remaining.
AZ face title-chasing Ajax of their subsequent league outing, however with no home fixture this weekend, they will absolutely give attention to their Europa League conflict with Spurs. They goal to achieve the quarterfinals for the primary time since 2013-14.
Regardless of successful simply two of their final 19 encounters with English groups, AZ have netted 19 Europa League objectives this season—surpassed by solely three sides – and will exceed 20 in a single European marketing campaign for the primary time since 2006/07 (26).
Group Information
AZ shall be with out key playmaker Sven Mijnans resulting from an Achilles harm, whereas Jayden Addai (ankle) can be unavailable. Ruben van Bommel and Mexx Meerdink stay uncertain for the primary leg.
Zico Buurmeester, who discovered the online in opposition to Heerenveen final weekend, is more likely to proceed because the central attacking midfielder in Mijnans’ absence, linking up with midfielders Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners.
Main the road shall be former Tottenham ahead Troy Parrott, who has scored 17 objectives throughout all competitions this season, together with 4 within the Europa League. The 23-year-old Irishman shall be eager to make an influence in opposition to his former membership.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham have struggled for consistency since December, shedding 11 of their final 23 matches in all competitions, together with a latest 1-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis. With simply 11 league video games remaining, they sit thirteenth within the Premier League, 9 factors off the highest 10 and 14 factors behind the highest 4, making Europa League success their finest likelihood of silverware this season.
Ange Postecoglou, beneath rising strain, stays optimistic about salvaging Spurs’ marketing campaign. His aspect ended the League Part strongly with wins over Hoffenheim and Elfsborg and beforehand edged AZ 1-0 at house.
Traditionally, Tottenham have fared effectively in opposition to Dutch opposition, successful seven of their final 11 main European encounters (D2 L2), together with a dramatic 3-2 win at Ajax in 2019. Nevertheless, they’ve received simply three of their final 18 away legs in European knockout ties, a document they may hope to enhance on Thursday.
Group Information
Tottenham face a number of choice issues forward of their Europa League conflict with AZ Alkmaar. Dejan Kulusevski is sidelined for at the least every week with a foot harm, whereas Radu Dragusin (ACL) stays a long-term absentee. Thursday’s recreation additionally comes too quickly for Dominic Solanke (knee) and Richarlison (calf).
Moreover, Antonin Kinsky, Fraser Forster, Timo Werner, and Sergio Reguilon had been neglected of Spurs’ Europa League squad and are ineligible. Nevertheless, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero (each thigh) have an “exterior likelihood” of returning after resuming coaching, whereas Ben Davies will bear evaluation.
January signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel are set for his or her first European appearances for Spurs. Tel is predicted to characteristic in assault alongside Son Heung-min, who has netted seven main European knockout objectives for Tottenham, second solely to Dimitar Berbatov (12) this century.
Conclusion
Tottenham’s focus may have now shifted fully to successful the Europa League, and Ange Postecoglou can’t afford a subpar show from his aspect in the event that they hope to achieve an important first-leg benefit. AZ Alkmaar, nonetheless, will pose a powerful problem, particularly at house, the place they continue to be unbeaten in Europe this season (W4 D1).
Regardless of this, Spurs, who nonetheless boast loads of high quality regardless of their harm woes, could have simply sufficient to edge out a slim victory within the Netherlands.
Verdict: Away win
Finest odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
