Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar | Europa League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg | Pre Match
Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham Hotspur face a critical Europa League last-16 second-leg showdown against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, tasked with overturning a one-goal deficit from the first leg to keep their season’s silverware aspirations alive—a prospect that has grown increasingly vital under manager Ange Postecoglou. Last week’s clash in the Netherlands ended in a 1-0 defeat for Spurs, courtesy of a bizarre own goal by Lucas Bergvall, a moment that has left the tie delicately poised with a quarter-final berth against either Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax at stake. That loss in Alkmaar extended Tottenham’s dismal record in European first-leg away matches, with just one victory in their last nine—a 2-1 triumph over Wolfsburg in the Europa League last-32 round in 2021, played behind closed doors due to pandemic restrictions. For Postecoglou, who boldly pledged to deliver a trophy in his second season at the helm, this match has swiftly escalated into the most pivotal of the campaign. With FA Cup and EFL Cup exits already consigning those competitions to the rearview mirror, the Europa League stands as Tottenham’s sole remaining avenue to end a trophy drought stretching back to their 2008 League Cup triumph, a near-two-decade barren spell that has tested the patience of their fervent fanbase. Despite the setback in the first leg, optimism persists in North London, buoyed by Spurs’ strong home form in the competition’s league phase—where they amassed 10 points from a possible 12, including a 1-0 win over AZ—and a competition record of scoring in each of their last 29 Europa League home matches. Yet, defensive frailties, exposed in a recent 2-2 Premier League draw against Bournemouth, loom as a potential Achilles’ heel, making this a test of both attacking reliability and rear-guard resolve.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Tottenham, whose season has veered off course domestically, leaving European success as a lifeline to salvage something tangible from Postecoglou’s high-octane, attack-minded philosophy. Sitting 13th in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top eight as of March 13, 2025, Spurs have struggled to translate their European promise into league consistency, with Sunday’s draw against Bournemouth epitomizing their rollercoaster form—falling 2-0 behind before clawing back a point through late strikes from Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min. That resilience will be crucial against AZ, but it’s their home record that offers the most hope: four wins in their last five Europa League home games against Dutch sides, with the lone blemish a 1-0 loss to Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals—a defeat overturned by Lucas Moura’s iconic hat-trick in Amsterdam to propel Spurs to the final. The AZ tie, then, is less a cause for panic and more an opportunity to lean on their North London fortress, where they’ve been prolific in front of goal, netting in every Europa League home outing since November 2016—a streak unmatched in the competition’s history. Postecoglou will bank on this attacking consistency, with players like Son, Johnson, and James Maddison likely to shoulder the burden, but the Bournemouth game underscored a recurring issue: keeping the back door shut. Conceding twice at home to a mid-table Premier League side highlighted vulnerabilities that AZ, despite their own struggles, could exploit if Spurs fail to tighten up. The manager’s promise of silverware, once a bold rallying cry, now hangs by a thread, and a slip-up here could turn the narrative of his tenure from one of ambition to one of unfulfilled potential.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, arrive in London as underdogs but emboldened by their first-leg upset, a victory that snapped a 10-game winless streak against English opposition and breathed life into their European campaign. That 1-0 win, secured through Bergvall’s unfortunate own goal, was a rare bright spot in an otherwise dismal record on English soil—nine consecutive losses in European away games against English clubs, the worst 100% losing streak of any team in the competition’s history. Maarten Martens’ side have little to lose, having defied expectations to reach this stage, and their preparation has been meticulous: a postponed Eredivisie fixture against Waalwijk over the weekend granted them a full week to focus on this clash, a luxury Spurs, fatigued from a grueling domestic schedule, couldn’t afford. AZ’s 2025 has been a revelation, with seven wins in nine matches across all competitions since a league-phase loss to Ferencvaros, including a stunning 6-3 aggregate triumph over Galatasaray in the previous round. Domestically, they remain in contention for a top-three finish in the Eredivisie, while a semi-final win over Heracles Almelo in the KNVB Beker has them one step from a cup final against Go Ahead Eagles next month. Yet, their away form in Europe paints a starkly different picture—10 games without a win, conceding in eight of those, and a failure here would match their worst-ever continental road streak. The first-leg victory showcased their resilience and ability to capitalize on errors, but repeating that feat at Tottenham’s cauldron will demand a herculean effort, especially with a depleted squad facing a Spurs side desperate to assert their home dominance.
Team news adds further layers of intrigue to this delicately balanced tie, with both sides grappling with absences that could shape their strategies. Tottenham will miss midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, whose yellow card in Alkmaar triggers a one-match ban, though Postecoglou’s depth—Archie Gray and Bergvall were substitutes against Bournemouth—offers ample cover in midfield. Defensively, the return of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero from lengthy injuries bolsters the backline, a timely boost with Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies sidelined, potentially allowing Spurs to field a first-choice center-back pairing to shore up their leaky defense. The absence of Dejan Kulusevski, however, is a significant blow—the Swede’s 20 goal contributions across all competitions this season underline his importance, and his creativity will be missed alongside Richarlison, who scored the winner in the league-phase meeting with AZ but remains out injured. For AZ, the injury list is even more daunting: Mayckel Lahdo, forced off after 10 minutes in the first leg, and his replacement Denso Kasius, who limped off later, join key attackers Sven Mijnans and Ruben van Bommel on the sidelines, while young forwards Jayden Addai and Mexx Meerdink are also unavailable. Former Spurs academy product Troy Parrott, now AZ’s leading striker, will shoulder the attacking burden, eager to haunt his old club after failing to score in their two prior encounters this season. These absences could force Martens into a conservative setup, relying on counter-attacks to nick a result, while Postecoglou may push for an early goal to ignite the crowd and bury AZ’s hopes.
As the Europa League reaches its knockout crescendo, this match encapsulates Tottenham’s season in microcosm—a blend of promise, peril, and the perennial quest for a trophy to silence the doubters. The 1-0 deficit is hardly insurmountable, especially given Spurs’ attacking record at home, where they’ve averaged over two goals per game in the competition’s league phase. AZ’s historical struggles in England—nine losses, 22 goals conceded—tilt the odds further in Tottenham’s favor, yet the first leg proved Martens’ side can pounce on mistakes, and Spurs’ defensive lapses offer a glimmer of hope for the Dutch outsiders. Postecoglou, under pressure to deliver on his trophy pledge, will demand a performance that marries flair with focus, knowing that a quarter-final clash with Frankfurt or Ajax awaits the victor. For AZ, this is a chance to defy their wretched away record and sustain their remarkable 2025, but the weight of history and Tottenham’s home prowess loom large. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, packed and expectant, will amplify the stakes, and as fireworks light up the North London sky—whether in celebration or consolation—the outcome will hinge on whether Spurs can rediscover their cutting edge or if AZ can pull off another shock to keep their own silverware dreams alive.
