Tottenham Hotspur, one of the favorites to win this season’s Europa League, travel to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their last-16 showdown.
Spurs have been inconsistent, losing 11 of their last 23 matches, but manager Ange Postecoglou sees the Europa League as a chance to salvage their season.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, have been solid in the competition, scoring 19 goals—one of the highest tallies in the tournament. They remain unbeaten at home in Europe this season (W4 D1), giving them confidence against a Tottenham Hotspur side that has historically struggled in away knockout ties.
In terms of team news, AZ will be without key playmaker Sven Mijnans, while Spurs are missing several players, including Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin.
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur – Spurs’ attacking quality may give them the edge, but AZ’s home form makes this a tricky encounter.