Spurs saw off their Eredivisie counterparts 1-0 earlier this season, thanks to a Richarlison penalty during a league-phase clash in north London, and have been drawn against them once more in a two-legged last-16 tie.
Exits from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup mean Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has only success in Europe left to maintain his record of “always” winning silverware in his second season at a club. Tottenham remain favourites to do so, but know their Dutch opponents will prove no pushovers.
AZ have lost just once at home across all competitions so far this season and thumped Galatasaray in the knockout play-off round, a team Spurs lost to during the league phase.
Postecoglou opted to leave captain Heung-min Son, impressive full-back Djed Spence and influential midfielder Dejan Kulusevski out of the starting lineup for the recent home defeat by Manchester City in the Premier League, with this game in mind, and has now lost the latter to injury. It remains to be seen how serious Kulusevski’s foot injury is, but he will not be back before the international break.
Spurs will finally have centre-back pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero available tonight, the latter could start but Postecoglou will likely take a cautious approach with the former. Dominic Solanke is also back in another huge boost, but Richarlison and Ben Davies remain out along with long-term absentee Radu Dragusin.
Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners will have a battle on their hands in midfield, especially against a Spurs side who were afforded the weekend off with the Premier League schedule on pause for the FA Cup.
Spurs will be the fresher of the two teams but face an AZ side who boast a formidable home record. Postecoglou should be telling his team to keep it tight at the back, but that is no guarantee with the Australian in charge, so goals could well be in plentiful supply.
I expect both teams to come out of the traps quickly, and AZ will look to their 4-1 win at home over Galatasaray as proof that they can blow teams away in front of their own fans. Spurs will likely be happy with a draw ahead of hosting the second leg at home next week. It could be a bit of a nervy affair.