2024-25 UEFA Europa League: League Phase – Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham face AZ Alkmaar in the league phase of 2024-25 UEFA Europa League. 

Victory could put Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs top if results elsewhere go in their favour, whilst AZ Alkmaar could move into the knockout play-off seeding positions with a win.

 

Team News

Radu Dragusin is available for Tottenham after he was suspended for their last Europa League match, which saw them win 2-1 at Ferencvaros.

Djed Spence (groin) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) could return but Son Heung-min is being rested, with the forward not set to feature on the substitutes bench.

AZ Alkmaar have no fresh injury issues following their 2-1 Eredivisie loss to PSV.

Bruno Martins Indi (muscle), Ibrahim Sadiq, Mexx Merdink and Wouter Goes (all unspecified) are ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Tottenham host AZ Alkmaar at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday 24 October at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Tottenham’s first-ever competitive meeting against AZ Alkmaar in all UEFA competitions.
• AZ Alkmaar are visiting Tottenham for the first time in a competitive away fixture.
• Spurs have avoided defeat in eight of ten previous home games against Dutch opposition (W5, D3, L2).
• Four of Tottenham’s five goals in the league phase have been scored by Brennan Johnson and Pape Matar Sarr, who have both scored twice apiece.
• AZ Alkmaar has failed to win their last five away games in all UEFA competitions (D1, L4).

 

Prediction

Despite their initial wasteful attacking in their Premier League win over West Ham, Tottenham produced a brilliant reaction to conceding from a sloppy moment of play and hopefully they can build on that here.

AZ Alkmaar meanwhile have hit a rut with four consecutive defeats but there is no doubting their attacking threat, yet their defence is currently a weak point which is a worry given how dangerous Spurs’ attack is currently.

I nevertheless do expect AZ Alkmaar to mount a strong fight but Tottenham should win this rather comfortably.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

Result: Tottenham 1-0 AZ Alkmaar