Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham Hotspur face a crucial test on Thursday night as they seek to overturn a first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar in North London, with their Europa League hopes and only remaining chance at silverware this season hanging in the balance. Having suffered a narrow defeat in the Netherlands due to an unfortunate own goal by Lucas Bergvall, Spurs now have an opportunity to rectify their earlier misstep and progress to the quarter-finals, where they will meet either Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax.

The defeat last week added to a troubling trend for Tottenham, as they have now won only one of their last nine first-leg away fixtures in European competitions. Their only triumph in such scenarios came during the 2021 Europa League last 32, when they secured victory over Wolfsberger behind closed doors. Manager Ange Postecoglou, who arrived with high ambitions and a promise to end the club’s long-standing trophy drought, now finds himself in a position where failure to advance would be seen as a significant setback.

With their domestic cup aspirations in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup already extinguished, the Europa League remains the sole avenue for Spurs to bring an end to nearly two decades without a major trophy. Despite the pressure, there is still a sense of confidence within the squad. Spurs finished the league phase of the tournament in fourth place, showcasing a strong home record by collecting 10 points out of a possible 12. This run included a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, which should offer some encouragement as they prepare to overturn the deficit.

However, Tottenham’s defensive frailties remain a concern. While their attacking unit has been consistently finding the back of the net in European home matches—a record 29 consecutive Europa League home games with at least one goal—keeping opposition attacks at bay has proven problematic. This was evident in their recent Premier League encounter against Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they conceded twice and were fortunate not to be trailing by a greater margin before staging a late comeback to salvage a point. That result left them languishing in 13th place in the domestic standings, 10 points adrift of the top eight. Given their struggles in the league, it is evident that most of their focus will now be directed toward European competition.

The statistics favor Spurs when facing Dutch opposition at home, having won four of their last five encounters against Eredivisie clubs on their own turf. The only exception was a 1-0 defeat to Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, but even then, Tottenham famously mounted a dramatic second-leg comeback in Amsterdam to advance to the final. Such history could serve as inspiration for the current squad, who must now replicate that resilience against AZ.

For AZ Alkmaar, last week’s win was a historic one, as it marked the end of a 10-game winless streak against English opposition. However, despite that success, they enter the return fixture as the underdogs due to their dismal record when traveling to England. AZ have suffered defeat in all nine of their previous European matches on English soil, the worst such losing streak for any club in the history of European competition. Their struggles away from home extend beyond just England, as they have now gone 10 consecutive away matches in continental tournaments without a victory. If they fail to win on Thursday, they will match their worst-ever run of away results.

Despite these concerning statistics, AZ have done everything in their power to maximize their chances of progressing. The Dutch side was granted permission to postpone their domestic league fixture against Waalwijk over the weekend, allowing them extra time to prepare for the decisive second leg. This additional rest could prove beneficial, particularly given their demanding schedule and the importance of maintaining their energy levels for what promises to be an intense battle in North London.

So far, 2025 has been an exceptional year for AZ supporters, with their club excelling across multiple fronts. Their journey to this stage of the Europa League included an impressive 6-3 aggregate victory over Turkish giants Galatasaray, underlining their attacking capabilities. Since suffering a setback against Ferencvaros on matchday eight of the Europa League’s league phase, AZ have responded in impressive fashion, winning seven of their last nine matches across all competitions. Their domestic form remains strong as well, keeping them in the race for a top-three finish in the Eredivisie.

One of their standout performances of the year came in the KNVB Beker, where they secured a place in the final after defeating Heracles Almelo in the semi-finals. This sets up an opportunity to compete for domestic silverware next month when they face Go Ahead Eagles. With their prospects bright on multiple fronts, AZ’s confidence will be high, and they will be determined to continue their resurgence by causing an upset against Tottenham.

Ultimately, Thursday’s encounter presents a significant challenge for both teams. For Tottenham, it is a must-win game that will define their season, determining whether they can continue their quest for European glory or face the disappointment of yet another trophyless campaign. For AZ, the match represents an opportunity to shatter their long-standing struggles in England and take a major step forward on the European stage. With high stakes on the line, an electric atmosphere is expected at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as both sides battle for a place in the quarter-finals.