Here’s a rewritten version of the content for clarity and readability:
Tottenham Hotspur Face AZ Alkmaar in Europa League Last 16 Clash
Tottenham Hotspur return to Europa League action on Thursday evening as they travel to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Having finished in the top eight during the league phase, Spurs bypassed the play-off round and enjoyed extra rest ahead of this crucial clash. Their opponents, AZ Alkmaar, secured their place in the last 16 with a 6-3 aggregate victory over Galatasaray in the play-offs.
Form Guide
Tottenham arrive in Alkmaar in patchy form, with only two wins in their last five matches across all competitions. Victories over Manchester United and Ipswich Town were overshadowed by defeats to Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Manchester City. With Spurs out of both domestic cup competitions and struggling in the Premier League, the Europa League represents manager Ange Postecoglou’s final chance to secure silverware in his second season at the club.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, were on a seven-game unbeaten run before a surprising 3-1 defeat to Heerenveen in the Eredivisie last weekend. Manager Maarten Martens will be eager to rally his team for a strong response against Spurs. AZ has already faced Tottenham this season, losing 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October. A positive result at home is crucial for the Dutch side heading into the second leg.
Head-to-Head Record
Tottenham and AZ Alkmaar have met twice before, both in the Europa League group stage during the 2021/22 season. Spurs won both encounters, including a 2-1 victory in Alkmaar.
Current Form (All Competitions)
| AZ Alkmaar | Tottenham Hotspur |
|---|---|
| Heerenveen 3-1 AZ Alkmaar – 02/03 | Tottenham 0-1 Man City – 26/02 |
| Heracles 2-2 (3-4p) AZ – 27/02 | Ipswich 1-4 Tottenham – 22/02 |
| AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Fortuna Sittard – 23/02 | Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd – 16/02 |
| Galatasaray 2-2 AZ Alkmaar – 20/02 | Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham – 09/02 |
| AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Galatasaray – 13/02 | Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham – 06/02 |
Team News
AZ Alkmaar will be without Jayden Addai and Sven Mijnans, with the latter likely sidelined for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury. Doubts remain over the availability of Ryan van Bommel, Mexx Meerdink, and Sem Westerveld.
Former Tottenham player Troy Parrott, who joined AZ last summer, will lead the attack for the Dutch side. The Irish striker has been in fine form this season, scoring 17 goals in 38 appearances, and will be keen to make an impact against his former club.
Predicted AZ Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, De Wit; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo; Parrott.
Tottenham continue to deal with injuries, with Dejan Kulusevski set to miss the match due to a foot issue. He is also expected to be absent for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth. Radu Dragusin and Richarlison are unavailable, while Antonin Kinsky, Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon, and Timo Werner are ineligible after being omitted from the Europa League squad.
On a positive note, Dominic Solanke, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero have returned to full training and could feature. However, it remains unclear if they will be risked. Ben Davies is also a doubt due to a muscle injury.
Predicted Tottenham Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Maddison, Son; Tel.
Match Preview
AZ Alkmaar have been formidable at home this season, losing just four times in all competitions. They have proven their mettle both domestically and in Europe, with victories over Galatasaray, Roma, and Ajax. However, Tottenham’s superior squad depth and attacking firepower make them favorites to edge out the Dutch side.
Despite AZ’s resilience, Spurs’ attacking talent, including the likes of Son Heung-min and James Maddison, should prove decisive.
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar 2-3 Tottenham
The Europa League remains Tottenham’s last chance for silverware this season, and they will be eager to take a significant step toward the quarter-finals with a strong performance in Alkmaar.
Read the latest Europa League news, previews, and ratings here.
This version condenses the information while maintaining clarity and flow.
