October 24. 22:00. London. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Europa League. League Stage. Matchday 3
Tottenham Hotspur (London, England) – AZ Alkmaar (Alkmaar, Netherlands)
Where to Watch: MEGOGO
Unavailable: None
Injuries: Wilson Odobert (doubtful) - Wouter Gus, Lewis Schouten, Sam Westerfeld (all doubtful), Lekinsio Zeefuik, Mex de Wit, Bruno Martins Indi
Tottenham vs AZ: Betting Odds
Tottenham
In September, the "Spurs" hit excellent form, but just before the international break, they shocked their supporters. After leading Brighton 2-0 at halftime, the London side managed to concede three goals in the second half, ultimately losing 3-2. Last weekend, however, Ange Postecoglou’s side was expected to respond. The home derby against West Ham started poorly for the "Spurs," but they managed to equalize before the break and then took full advantage of the opponent's defensive lapses after halftime. Tottenham trounced the Hammers 4-1, closing the gap to the Champions League spots, and now aims to secure another impressive victory that will propel them closer to their objective in the Europa League - reaching the Round of 16.
In their first two matches on the continental stage, Tottenham encountered little resistance. They launched their campaign with a thumping 3-0 victory over Qarabağ, even playing with ten men starting from the seventh minute. In the second round, the Londoners took down Ferencváros 2-1, conceding their only goal in the dying moments of the match.
AZ
The "Cheesemakers" started the season strongly, winning six out of seven matches across all competitions (with one draw). However, they will travel to London carrying a dismal streak of four consecutive defeats - the like of which has not happened to AZ in over 22 years. Thus, there couldn't be a better moment for Ange Postecoglou's team to face the Dutch side.
In the second round of the Europa League, the "Cheesemakers" suffered a 0-2 loss away to Athletic Bilbao and prior to that, they faced their first defeat in the national league, losing 1-2 to Utrecht. In October, AZ faced two more setbacks: just before the international break, Marten Martens' men lost 0-1 away to Fortuna, and last weekend at home, they couldn't stop the winning run of PSV, going down 1-2. This series of defeats has led to a rapid drop in the table of the Dutch league: AZ currently sits fifth, but they are closer to the relegation zone than to the leaders.
Tottenham vs AZ: Author's Prediction
Beyond their poor form, statistics are also against AZ: the "Cheesemakers" have lost all eight matches they have played in England in European competitions, conceding at least two goals in each game. Including last season, the "Cheesemakers" have suffered five defeats in their last six away matches in European cups. Of course, Marten Martens’ team will be keen to break these losing streaks. I expect at least one goal from AZ in London, but at the same time, I believe that Tottenham is simply too strong an opponent for the Dutch representatives at this stage. My prediction is a Tottenham win with both teams to score.