AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur: Team news and Europa League preview

Tottenham Hotspur face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie in the Netherlands this Thursday.

After an entire week of rest following the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, Ange Postecoglou’s side will travel to the Netherlands to face familiar opponents, AZ Alkmaar, in what could be his most crucial fixture in the remainder of this season.

What time does AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

• Location: Alkmaar, Netherlands
• Stadium: AFAS Stadion
• Date: Thursday 6th March 2025
• Kick-off Time: 5:45 pm BST

How both teams go into AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur arrive at this fixture after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last week, despite controlling large parts of the game but squandering multiple chances. However, Ange Postecoglou can take confidence from his side’s form before that loss, with back-to-back league wins; 1-0 against Manchester United and then a 4-1 victory away at Portman Road.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar have had no such privilege of rest, playing twice in the meantime. They edged past their KNVB Cup semi-final with a 3-4 penalty shootout win after a 2-2 draw. However, they come into this game following a 1-3 Eredivisie defeat to SC Heerenveen. That result was their only loss in 2025 across all competitions (eight games).

These two sides have already met earlier in this competition, with Spurs winning 1-0 in the group stages, thanks to a Richarlison penalty and a Fraser Forster masterclass.

Tottenham’s only Europa League defeat came in a 3-2 loss to Galatasaray, but ironically, AZ Alkmaar knocked Galatasaray out in the last round with a 6-3 aggregate scoreline (4-1 at home, 2-2 away).

Tottenham Europa League team news

The only confirmed absentee for Spurs is Radu Dragușin. Meanwhile, Timo Werner, Antonin Kinsky, and Sergio Reguilón remain ineligible as they aren’t registered for the knockout rounds.

Ange Postecoglou hinted that we could see the return of both Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven in this fixture but he will likely be cautious with their minutes.

Ben Davies looks set to return after missing the Ipswich and City games. Up front, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison could also return after missing the last few matches.

Further updates will be available from Postecoglou’s pre-match press conference later this week.

AZ Alkmaar team news

AZ Alkmaar will be without Jayden Addai and Sven Mijnans, both confirmed absentees. Meanwhile, Mexx Meerdink, Ruben van Bommel, and backup goalkeeper Sam Westerveld are doubts but could make the squad.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Ange Postecoglou rested Son Heung-min, Djed Spence, and Dejan Kulusevski against Manchester City, which suggests they will start here. Lucas Bergvall played the full 90 minutes against City, while Rodrigo Bentancur was subbed off after 67 minutes, making the Uruguayan the likelier starter alongside Maddison.

With Romero and Van de Ven more likely to feature against Bournemouth, a Danso-Davies pairing makes sense for Tottenham this time. Mathys Tel will likely replace Solanke early if he doesn’t start. The same could be applicable for Son and Odobert.

Our tactical insights into AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur

We analysed AZ Alkmaar’s recent games, including both legs against Galatasaray, and this isn’t the same team that Fraser Forster kept a clean sheet against. Here’s what we were able to draw out:

• Pressing traps – AZ Alkmaar excel at pressing and will bait Tottenham’s defenders into playing into a ‘free’ midfielder before pouncing with two players to win possession and transition quickly. Spurs’ defenders must first ensure that the passing lanes are clear before playing the ball.
• Defensive frailties – Despite their pressing intensity, Alkmaar struggle when it comes to tracking back or tracing runners in defensive transitions. Their midfielders often push too high up the pitch, leaving significant gaps between their defence. Spurs must capitalise on their chances, unlike against City last week.
• Set-piece vulnerability – AZ Alkmaar have looked particularly shaky when defending inswinging corners, especially at the back post. They tend to position most of their players near the front post or man-mark individual players, often leaving the far post a bit open.
• Postecoglou’s highline? – Teams often have difficulty progressing the ball due to AZ Alkmaar’s congested midfield, as was the case for Galatasaray in the first leg. However, they looked much more comfortable in the second leg. Why? There was a significant shift in Galatasaray’s defensive approach; they played the second leg on the front foot with a very high defensive line, which worked far better for them than the low block they used in the first game. This is exactly the kind of team Ange Postecoglou would prefer to face with his high defensive line.
• Finishing woes – While Alkmaar create plenty of chances against teams that deploy a high line, they are not the most clinical in front of goal. This should still give Guglielmo Vicario a busy evening.

Our Prediction

For Spurs, watch out for Djed Spence, one of their best performers this season and among the highest-rated defenders in 2025 across Europe. He will likely make his European debut in a Tottenham shirt after getting rested against Manchester City. Expect him to play just like he has been playing for the last few weeks.

For AZ Alkmaar, Troy Parrott could be a threat. The former Spurs man is not the best finisher but is very good at positioning himself and creating chances. Another player to keep an eye on is Peer Koopmeiners. We mentioned their ‘midfielder trap’ earlier, and almost always, the player making the interception or tackle is Koopmeiners. He’s won 53.1% of tackles in the Eredivisie, which is quite impressive for a midfielder.

This shouldn’t be a hard game for Spurs considering their squad depth and recent form. However, AZ Alkmaar have lost only once at home in all competitions since the start of December. Spurs should look to take a lead to North London instead of piling up pressure in the first leg already, especially as they have the added advantage of being the side with fresher legs.

Predicted score: AZ Alkmaar 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur. COYS!

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