Tottenham Hotspur’s season, and the long-term future of manager Ange Postecoglou, could well centre around Thursday’s UEFA Europa League match with AZ Alkmaar.
Spurs are trailing 1-0 following the first leg of the Round of 16 tie last week and therefore must win if they are to avoid exiting the competition before the quarterfinal stage.
With their domestic season in tatters, the chance to qualify for European football in 2025/26 — and keep up Postecoglou’s pledge to deliver silverware in his second full season in charge — rests on their Europa League campaign. Failure to progress against the team currently sixth in the Eredivisie would lead to serious questions over the manager’s position.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news for this critical game.
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Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
The big loss for Spurs is in midfield, with Rodrigo Bentancur suspended after receiving a third yellow card of the tournament in the first leg.
Kevin Danso is also out with a hamstring injury, but with Ben Davies available again after four games out and both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero back to match fitness, the defence is looking much stronger.
Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski are still sidelined, while Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky, Sergio Reguilon, Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner are all ineligible.
Tottenham predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie — Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison — Johnson, Solanke, Son
Injured: Danso (hamstring), Kulusevski (foot), Dragusin (knee), Richarlison (lower leg)
Suspended: Bentancur (yellow-card accumulation)
Ineligible: Forster, Kinsky, Reguilon, Dragusin, Werner
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AZ will be without Mayckel Lahdo and Denso Kasius, who both suffered injuries in the first leg. Sven Mijnans, Jayden Addai and Ruben van Bommel are also sidelined.
Ro-Zangelo Daal, the 21-year-old striker who scored a hat-trick for the reserves at the weekend, is also missing the trip to London as his girlfriend is reportedly due to give birth soon.
Striker Mexx Meerdink has travelled with the squad after a month out with injury.
AZ Alkmaar predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Owuso-Oduro (GK) — Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe — Clasie, Koopmeiners — Poku, Buurmeester, Smit — Parrott
Injured: Lahdo (knock), Kasius (undisc.), Mijnans (undisc.), Addai (ankle), Van Bommel (undisc.)
Suspended: None
Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Europa League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
