£210k/week trio benched as Maddison decision made – Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Predicted XIs

Tottenham Hotspur and AZ Alkmaar are set to clash in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night, with Spurs desperate to keep their hopes of silverware alive.

Ange Postecoglou’s side suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the first leg in the Netherlands, leaving them with a mountain to climb in front of their home fans. The North Londoners followed that result with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League, where they came from two goals down to salvage a point.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar enjoyed a free weekend, giving them extra time to prepare for this crucial encounter.

Both managers face injury concerns and tactical decisions ahead of the match, but Tottenham’s situation appears more challenging. The Lilywhites have been dealt a fresh blow with Kevin Danso ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained in the Bournemouth game.

However, Postecoglou has welcomed back key players Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Dominic Solanke, all of whom could feature in the starting lineup. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg, further complicating Spurs’ midfield options.

Postecoglou provided an update on his squad during his pre-match press conference, confirming Danso’s absence and offering a glimmer of hope for his recovery.

“Kevin got a hamstring injury in the last game, so he’s out. It’s hard to say at the moment how long he’ll be out for. He felt it right at the end of the game, so we’ll see. We have the international break, which helps us, and Kevin looks after himself. He’s a pretty good athlete, so we’ll give him every chance to get back. We’ll have to let it settle down a bit before we get some clarity, but he’ll be pushing. Ben (Davies) is back.”

Tottenham’s predicted starting XI reflects the need for a strong performance to overturn the deficit. Guglielmo Vicario is expected to start in goal, with a backline featuring Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie. In midfield, James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr, and Lucas Bergvall are likely to form the trio tasked with controlling the game. Up front, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Son Heung-min are set to lead the attack, with Son preferred over loanee Mathys Tel.

On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar have their own injury concerns but are in a relatively stronger position. Mayckel Lahdo, who suffered a foot injury in the first leg, remains sidelined, while Sven Mijnans and Denso Kasius are also unavailable.

However, the Dutch side will welcome back Mexx Meerdink, who missed the first leg due to injury. Manager Maarten Martens is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the side that secured the first-leg victory, with former Tottenham academy star Troy Parrott expected to lead the line in attack.

AZ Alkmaar’s predicted lineup features Owusu-Oduro in goal, with a defensive quartet of Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, and Wolfe. Koopmeiners and Clasie are expected to anchor the midfield, while Poku, Buurmeester, and Van Dujin support Parrott in attack.

As Tottenham prepare for this must-win clash, the focus will be on delivering a performance that reflects their potential and ambition. With key players returning and a strong lineup, Spurs have the tools to overturn the deficit and keep their European dreams alive.

For AZ Alkmaar, the challenge will be to maintain their defensive solidity and capitalize on any opportunities to secure their place in the quarter-finals. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter, with both teams fighting for their European futures.