Tottenham Hotspur will aim to maintain their perfect start in the Europa League as they host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After securing back-to-back wins against Qarabag and Ferencvaros, Ange Postecoglou’s men are on a roll, and they’ll be looking to make it three consecutive victories in the competition.
Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar, coming off a string of poor performances, will need something extraordinary to challenge the Premier League side.
Tottenham in Red-Hot Form
Spurs come into this fixture riding high on confidence after a stellar 4-1 win over West Ham United. With Son Heung-min back in the lineup, Tottenham delivered a dominant performance that propelled them to seventh in the Premier League table.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham has shown an attacking flair that has fans hopeful of success both domestically and in Europe.
In the Europa League, Tottenham has been clinical. After beating Qarabag 3-0 and Ferencvaros 2-1, Spurs are one of only five teams to have won all their group matches.
Their offense has been firing on all cylinders, with players like Timo Werner and Richarlison stepping up. This game against AZ Alkmaar presents another opportunity for Spurs to showcase their dominance in Europe.
AZ Alkmaar Struggling for Form
While Hotspur have been impressive, AZ Alkmaar are facing a difficult period. The Dutch side has lost their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven over the weekend.
Manager Maarten Martens will be desperate to turn things around, but facing a high-flying Tottenham side in their current form is a daunting task.
AZ’s lone bright spot in the Europa League came in their opening match when they secured a victory against Elfsborg, but they faltered against Athletic Club in their next outing, losing 2-0.
Now, AZ will need to overcome their slump and put in a solid performance if they hope to take anything from their visit to London.
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Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar: Head-to-Head Record
Surprisingly, this will be the first competitive meeting between Hotspur and AZ Alkmaar. Both teams will be eager to make their mark in this inaugural clash, but all signs point toward Tottenham having the upper hand.
Team News: Tottenham’s Rotation and AZ’s Injuries
Ange Postecoglou is likely to rotate his squad for this fixture, giving opportunities to some of the more peripheral players while still maintaining enough quality to ensure victory. Wilson Odobert and Djed Spence remain unavailable, but aside from those injuries, Tottenham has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
The likes of Richarlison, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall are expected to feature, while first-team regulars such as Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min could be rested. With Son just returning from injury, it’s unlikely he’ll start, but the spurs still has enough firepower with players like Timo Werner ready to lead the attack.
AZ Alkmaar, on the other hand, is facing several injury concerns. Key players like Bruno Martins Indi, Mexx Meerdink, and Lequincio Zeefuik are out, while Lewis Schouten, Wouter Goes, and Ibrahim Sadiq are all doubtful. However, AZ does have a familiar face returning to London—former Spurs striker Troy Parrott, who has been in fine form for the Dutch side, will be eager to make an impact against his former club.
Predicted Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup (4-3-3):
Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner.
AZ Alkmaar predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Dekker, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Poku, Mijnans, Van Bommel; Parrott.
Tottenham’s Offensive Power vs AZ’s Defensive Struggles
Hotspur‘s attacking depth gives them a significant advantage in this encounter. Players like Timo Werner, Richarlison, and Archie Gray will lead the charge, offering a dynamic attack that could be too much for AZ’s weakened defense to handle. With AZ struggling defensively, having conceded multiple goals in their recent defeats, Hotspur’s firepower could see them dominate the game from the start.
AZ Alkmaar’s hopes lie in their ability to counter-attack and exploit any weaknesses in Hotspur’s rotated defense. Troy Parrott, in particular, will be key to AZ’s attack, and his experience with Spurs could give him extra motivation to perform. But given AZ’s current poor form, it will take something special for them to upset Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Match Prediction: Tottenham’s Dominance to Continue
Given Hotspur’s recent form and the fact that AZ Alkmaar are currently in a slump, it’s hard to see the Dutch side causing an upset. Tottenham’s depth and ability to control matches, even with a rotated squad, should be enough to see them comfortably through this game. Richarlison and Werner are likely to be key contributors, and Tottenham’s relentless attack should prove too much for AZ to handle.
While AZ Alkmaar might create some chances, particularly through Troy Parrott, Tottenham’s overall quality and home advantage should see them through to a comfortable win.
Jambobet Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar
Jambobet, the best football prediction site, forecasts a commanding victory for Hotspur in this Europa League clash. With Spurs in fine form and AZ struggling, this match looks set to provide another three points for Ange Postecoglou’s men as they continue their European journey.
