Tottenham Hotspur will have it all to do when they welcome AZ Alkmaar to their UEFA Europa League clash.
Tottenham Hotspur head into Thursday’s Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar needing a comeback victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to keep their hopes of European silverware alive. Following a 1-0 first-leg defeat in the Netherlands, Ange Postecoglou’s men must overturn the deficit if they are to book a place in the quarter-finals, where Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax await.
A freak own goal by Lucas Bergvall was all that separated the two sides in the first leg, leaving Spurs with plenty of work to do. The defeat continued their poor record in first-leg away matches in Europe, with just one win in their last nine, a victory against Wolfsberger in 2021 behind closed doors.
With FA Cup and EFL Cup exits already confirmed, the Europa League remains Tottenham’s only shot at silverware this season. Postecoglou’s promise of winning a trophy is now in serious jeopardy, making this the most important game of the season for the North London side.
Despite the first-leg setback, Spurs have reason for optimism. They finished fourth in the Europa League league phase, collecting ten points from a possible 12 at home, including a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar. Additionally, Tottenham have won four of their last five home matches against Dutch clubs, the only exception being their 1-0 loss to Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-final — a tie they famously turned around in the second leg.
Scoring should not be an issue for Spurs, as they hold the record for the most consecutive Europa League home matches with a goal (29). However, defensive frailties have been a recurring problem. They conceded twice against Bournemouth on Sunday, barely escaping with a late 2-2 draw after a sluggish start.
Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League and ten points adrift of the top eight, Spurs have little left to play for domestically, making Europe their top priority. Alkmaar ended a ten-game winless streak against English clubs with their 1-0 win over Spurs last week. However, history is stacked against them — they have lost all nine of their previous European trips to England, the worst 100% losing record in European football history.
Even more concerning is AZ’s poor away form in Europe — they are currently on a ten-match winless run on the road, and failure to win on Thursday would equal their worst-ever streak in European competition.
To maximise preparation time, AZ postponed their weekend Eredivisie fixture against Waalwijk, ensuring they arrive in London fully rested. Their 2025 form has been exceptional, as they knocked out Galatasaray 6-3 on aggregate in the previous round and remain in contention for a top-three finish in the Eredivisie.
Additionally, AZ booked their place in the KNVB Beker final last month, defeating Heracles Almelo, setting up a shot at silverware against Go Ahead Eagles in April. The Dutch giants will aim to go as far as possible in Europe as well and will prove to be dogged opponents. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham will be without Rodrigo Bentancur, as his yellow card in the first leg has triggered a one-match suspension. However, with Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall only named as substitutes in their Premier League match at the weekend, Ange Postecoglou has enough options to adjust his midfield.
Defensively, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both returned from lengthy injuries over the weekend and are expected to start as the centre-back pairing for this crucial second leg. Their return is timely, especially with Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies both ruled out due to injury.
In attack, Dejan Kulusevski remains a significant miss for Spurs, as the Swede has been directly involved in 20 goals across all competitions this season. Richarlison, who scored the winning goal against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League league phase, is also unavailable due to injury, forcing Postecoglou to reshuffle his frontline.
Tottenham are expected to set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. The back four will feature Pedro Porro at right-back, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero forming the central defensive duo, while Destiny Udogie will operate at left-back.
In midfield, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and James Maddison will look to control possession and dictate play, with Maddison’s creativity playing a key role in unlocking AZ Alkmaar’s defense.
Leading the attack, Brennan Johnson is expected to start on the right wing, with Dominic Solanke as the central striker and Son Heung-min operating from the left. This front three will carry the main goalscoring threat as Spurs attempt to overturn their 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie; Bergvall, Gray, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
AZ Alkmaar
Alkmaar will be without Mayckel Lahdo, who was forced off after just ten minutes in the first leg, while his replacement, Denso Kasius, also had to be withdrawn just after the hour mark. Both players will miss the second leg, further depleting Maarten Martens’ options.
Adding to AZ’s injury woes, key midfield duo Sven Mijnans and Ruben van Bommel remain sidelined, depriving the Dutch side of two influential figures in their creative play. Young attacking prospects Jayden Addai and Mexx Meerdink are also unavailable, leaving AZ short of attacking depth as they aim to defend their slender 1-0 aggregate lead.
One player who will be relishing this clash is Troy Parrott, the former Tottenham striker who came through the club’s youth system. Having failed to score against his former club in two previous meetings this season, Parrott will be eager to leave his mark at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and help AZ pull off an historic upset in North London.
AZ Alkmaar are expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, with Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro starting in goal. The defensive line will consist of Seiya Maikuma at right-back, Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra as the centre-back pairing, and David Wolfe occupying the left-back role.
In midfield, Jordy Clasie will anchor the side, providing experience and composure in possession, while Zico Buurmeester and Peer Koopmeiners will support him in the central areas, aiming to disrupt Tottenham’s attacking rhythm and launch counterattacks.
Up front, Ernest Poku is expected to start on the right wing, with Troy Parrott leading the line as the central striker, and Ibrahim Sadiq taking up the left-wing role. This front three will be tasked with exploiting Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities and securing AZ’s passage to the Europa League quarter-finals.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Buurmeester, Koopmeiners; Poku, Parrott, Sadiq
Key Stats
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Spurs have won four of their last five home European matches against Dutch opposition, with the only defeat coming in a 1-0 loss to Ajax in the 2019 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
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AZ have lost all nine of their away European matches in England, against eight different teams. This is the worst 100% losing record against English clubs in major European football history.
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Spurs have scored in each of their last 29 home matches in the UEFA Europa League, making it the longest scoring run at home in the competition’s history. The last time they failed to score at home in the Europa League was a 0-0 draw with Lazio in September 2012 under André Villas-Boas.
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AZ are winless in their last 10 away European matches (D2 L8) since their 2-1 win at Lazio in March 2023 during the UEFA Conference League Round of 16. They are now one match away from equalling their worst-ever European away winless streak (11), which occurred between October 2007 and November 2011.
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Archie Gray has started nine UEFA Europa League matches this season and could become the first English teenager to start 10 matches in a single season in the competition. He would also be just the second English teenager to make 10 Europa League appearances in a season, after Marcus Rashford for Manchester United in 2016/17 (11 appearances).
Player to Watch
Son Heung-min
If Tottenham Hotspur are to overturn their first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar, Son Heung-min will be the key figure leading their charge. The South Korean captain remains Spurs’ most dangerous attacking outlet, and his ability to deliver in high-pressure European nights makes him the player to watch in this decisive Europa League clash.
Son’s versatility allows him to operate as a left-winger, second striker, or even a centre-forward, giving Ange Postecoglou the tactical flexibility to adjust his attacking setup. With Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski both unavailable, Spurs will rely even more on Son’s finishing ability and leadership to break down AZ’s defense.
His movement, dribbling, and link-up play with James Maddison will be vital in unlocking the Dutch side’s compact defensive structure, and given AZ Alkmaar’s poor record in England, Son will look to exploit any gaps they leave in transition.
As Tottenham’s top scorer this season, Son has delivered in crucial moments, and this must-win European fixture presents another opportunity for him to step up when it matters most. If he finds space to cut inside and unleash his trademark right-footed strikes, AZ Alkmaar could struggle to contain him.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (Spurs win 3-2 on aggregate)
Tottenham’s strong home form in Europe, combined with AZ Alkmaar’s dreadful away record in England, makes them the favorites to progress. However, Ange Postecoglou’s defensive issues mean AZ will likely get opportunities on the counter.
Spurs should have enough firepower to turn the tie around, especially with the backing of their home fans. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Ange Postecoglou and his charges, with the result taking Tottenham to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
