TOTTENHAM have made a 100% start to their Europa League campaign and will be looking to extend their winning record as they host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night. Here we preview the big match from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium happening on October 24th.
How the bookies view it: Spurs should run away with it
The bookmakers are expecting a one-sided contest in favour of the Premier League club. Tottenham are 4/9 odds-on favourites to bank what would be their third win from three in this season’s Europa League group stage. That leaves Dutch club AZ Alkmaar out at an 11/2 quote as the underdogs.
Recent head-to-head: First clash between Spurs and Alkmaar
Tottenham and AZ Alkmaar have never met before. Spurs have played 21 previous matches against Dutch opposition, winning ten of those (D5 L6). Of those, ten were home fixtures for Tottenham, with a victory recorded in exactly half of them. Spurs have never managed more than one home win against a single Dutch side.
Players to watch: Will Johnson continue in fine scoring form?
Although Ange Postecoglou may be tempted to rest Brennan Johnson, the forward has been in great form recently and scored in Tottenham’s away win over Ferencvaros on Matchday 2 after coming off the bench. Spurs did have a much-changed line-up for that match and this on paper looks like a comfortable home game for them, so expect plenty of changes to happen here also.
Timo Werner was dropped from the starting eleven on the weekend, so the German will probably be reintroduced back into the starting line-up in midweek. There’s also a chance Richarlison could get a start as he recovers from his mysterious injury. The Brazilian appeared for 10 minutes against West Ham on the weekend.
Predicted Lineups
Radu Dragusin is back from suspension, so is likely to deputise at the back for Spurs in midweek. Son Heung-min will probably be rested because of only having just returned from injury. Wilson Odobert and Djed Spence are both sidelined.
Ibrahim Sadiq looks like missing out for AZ Alkmaar, with Bruno Martins Indi also still fighting to get fit. Despite being sent off on the weekend, David Moller Wolfe is eligible to play on Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner
AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro, Indi, Penetra, Maikuma, Moller Wlofe, Koopmeiners, Van Bomel, Clasie, Mijnans, Buurmeester, Parrott.
Anything else catch the eye?
AZ Alkmaar are not a team in form, having lost their last four matches on the spin in all competitions, conceding at least two goals in three of those four defeats. That came after they had gone undefeated in their first seven matches of the campaign in all competitions (W6 D1).
So the wheels look to have come off there and this is a big challenge on the road for them against Spurs. Tottenham look full of goals, having scored at least two in each of their last six matches in all competitions. Victories over FK Qarabag and Ferencvaros has seen Spurs get off to a good start in this campaign.
Even if they aren’t at full strength on Thursday, there should still be plenty of goals in this form, as they like to get on the front foot. But it may still be worth backing the visitors to at least nick a consolation, as Spurs have conceded in three of their last four home matches.
This UEFA Europa League match between Tottenham and AZ Alkmaar will be played on Oct 24, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
