Tottenham Hotspur head to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie.
Spurs' domestic campaign is effectively over following earlier cup exits and the fact they sit 13th in the Premier League standings, but this competition offers manager Ange Postecoglou a final chance to make good on his vow of delivering silverware in his second full season in charge.
Standing in their way in the first knockout round are AZ, a team who lost to Spurs in the league phase of this competition back in October but navigated a tough knockout playoff against Galatasaray to reach this point.
The Sporting News will provide live score updates and highlights from the match.
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AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur live score
PregameGoal scorersAZ Alkmaar0Tottenham0
Projected lineups:
AZ Alkmaar predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Owusu-Oduro (GK) — Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, De Wit — Clasie, Koopmeiners — Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo — Parrott
Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie — Sarr, Bissouma — B. Johnson, Maddison, Son — Tel
AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur kickoff time
This Europa League match kicks off in Alkmaar, Netherlands at 6:45 p.m. local time.
Here is how that time translates across some of the major territories:
DateKickoff timeUSAThurs, March 612:45 p.m. ETCanadaThurs, March 612:45 p.m. ETUKThurs, March 65:45 p.m. GMTAustraliaFri, March 74:45 a.m. AEDTIndiaThurs, March 610:45 p.m. IST
AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur lineups, team news
AZ are led in midfield by two experienced Netherlands internationals, Jordy Clasie and Teun Koopmeiners.
However, they are missing a few other key players, including young winger Ruben van Bommel who was having a breakout season before suffering an injury in mid-January. They are also without 21-year-old striker Mexx Meerdink and 19-year-old Jayden Addai, weakening their attacking unit further.
AZ Alkmaar predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Owusu-Oduro (GK) — Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, De Wit — Clasie, Koopmeiners — Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo — Parrott
AZ Alkmaar subs: Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
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Tottenham had seen their injury list start to lessen as the second half of the season rolled along, but then Dejan Kulusevski suffered a foot problem that has felled him until April.
Thankfully, there are reinforcements on the way. Cristian Romero appears to be ready for a return to the field after taking part in training since suffering a hamstring injury back in December, and the same is true for others including Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, and Ben Davies.
Radu Dragusin remains out for the season with an ACL tear.
Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie — Sarr, Bissouma — B. Johnson, Maddison, Son — Tel
Tottenham subs: Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur stats, head to head
The meeting during this season's league phase back in November was the first between these sides. Spurs claimed a 1-0 win thanks to Richarlison's goal.
AZ Alkmaar winsDrawsTottenham Hotspur wins001Biggest win:
N/ABiggest win:
AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur live stream, TV channel