Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League round of 16 clash against AZ Alkmaar, four Spurs players are walking the suspension tightrope. Let’s find out.
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to complete the double over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League round of 16, having edged past the Dutch side with a 1-0 victory in the league phase earlier this season.
A win here carries added significance, as progression to the quarter-finals would set up a showdown with either Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt, making this a pivotal fixture in Spurs’ European campaign.
Undoubtedly, Ange Postecoglou’s men are among the favourites to lift the trophy. However, it will be anything but straightforward, with strong sides like Lazio and Athletic Club still in the mix and capable of causing problems for the North London outfit.
Dejan Kulusevski risks suspension for Tottenham
Before Tottenham can start dreaming of silverware, they must first navigate a tricky tie against AZ, a side boasting an impressive European knockout stage record, winning eight of their last nine clashes in continental competitions.
For this, Postecoglou will need all of his key players available. However, there is a looming risk of four missing out due to suspension.
UEFA regulations state that a player receives an automatic one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards from the league phase onwards, with further suspensions triggered by every subsequent odd-numbered booking. The rules also state that yellow cards are not wiped out until the end of the quarter-finals.
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That leaves Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski walking a disciplinary tightrope as they are all on two bookings. Of course, any further caution puts them at risk of missing the next games in the knockout rounds.
Spurs players must maintain discipline
Indeed, the Australian manager will be wary of losing key personnel at a crucial stage of the tournament. If Tottenham are to progress beyond AZ, they will need all hands on deck for both legs of the quarter-finals and the round of 16 second leg.
For that to happen, the quartet must keep their discipline over the next four European matches—assuming, of course, that Spurs get the job done against AZ and secure their passage into the next round.
Avoiding unnecessary bookings will be vital in ensuring the squad remains at full strength for the business end of the competition.