Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham are favourites to qualify from the tie with AZ Alkmaar despite trailing 1-0 after the first leg in the Netherlands, and that feels like an opportunity to get the Dutch club onside. 

Tottenham have been putting in poor performances for months now. Recent victories over Brentford, Ipswich and Manchester United have papered over some cracks and eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou slightly, but Tottenham’s deficiencies remain. Even those victories can be questioned. Brentford have gone from a team that couldn’t lose at home to one that can’t win, Ipswich have picked up just 17 Premier League points all season and Manchester United are matched only by Spurs as an underperforming big club. 

⭐ Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Best Bet

Last Thursday, in the first leg of the tie, AZ Alkmaar performed to a superior standard than Tottenham, winning the xG battle 1.61-0.44 and outshooting their more illustrious opponents 12-7. AZ play with a high press, high intensity style that Tottenham cannot seem to get to grips with. Tottenham encountered problems against another team that play in a similar fashion when they hosted Bournemouth on Sunday. The game ended 2-2 but Tottenham can consider themselves to be hugely fortunate to have gained a point. A fluke from Pape Sarr and a moment of rashness from Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga were required for Tottenham to get anything from the game. 

Whilst Tottenham were battling with Bournemouth, AZ Alkmaar were resting up in preparation for the second leg. The Dutch FA often make a conscious decision to alter the Eredivisie calendar in order to give their clubs the best possible chance of going deep in continental competitions, as they make an effort to improve the country’s coefficient ranking. 

AZ Alkmaar double chance was considered but despite being a shade shorter in price backing AZ Alkmaar to qualify feels a better play with it bringing extra time and penalties into play should Tottenham win by a single goal in regulation time. 

🟢 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar ABC Exclusive Boost

👕 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Predicted XI

🔍 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Players to Watch

🔴 Troy Parrott

Former Tottenham academy product and now AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott is a player of interest on his return to where he developed into the senior game. 

Parrott missed a great opportunity to score in the first leg when he missed a one-on-one. He could make amends in the second leg. 

Parrott is 2nd in the Eredivisie top scorers table behind Sem Steijn of FC Twente. He is averaging 2.23 shots per game across all competitions this season with an on target ratio of 51%. 

He has scored four Europa League goals in 11 matches and has at least one shot on target in each of his last five Europa League matches.  

In all competitions Parrott has had a shot in each of his last 18 matches. At 3.75 he is worthy of a play v a team that have conceded 14.44 shots per game in the Europa League this season. 

🔴 Peer Koopmeiners

AZ Alkmaar midfielder Peer Koopmeiners picked up a yellow card in the 65th minute of last week’s first leg, for dragging back Djed Spence to stop a promising Tottenham attack after taking up a poor pressing angle. 

There’s a chance that Koopmeiners could find himself the attention of the referee again, in the second leg. Koopmeiners operates on the left-hand side of a midfield three and is part of AZ Alkmaar’s high pressing triggers. At times he’ll come into direct competition with Tottenham’s right back, right-sided midfielder and potentially the right winger. Koopmeiners' role requires concentration and an awareness of Tottenham’s fluid movements. 

Koopmeiners has picked up five yellow cards this season and his foul numbers make him a consistent candidate in the cards markets. Koopmeiners averages 1.59 fouls per match this season, with his foul numbers showing many matches of multiple fouls, including two against Tottenham last week. His foul numbers this season read 0-3-3-2-0-2-0-0-1-1-3-0-1-2-2-3-0-2-1-3-1-2-1-0-5-3-1-0-0-3-1-2-1-3-2-1-0-2. 

📂 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Cheat Sheet

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💻 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Form and Tactics

Since the start of February, Tottenham have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. The reality is that the Europa League is the only competition left of interest for them this season as they are languishing in 13^th in the Premier League table. 

In fact, if you wanted an alternative bet to oppose Tottenham with you could look at Ange Postecoglou in the next Premier League manager to leave market. He is priced at around 5.50 and would surely come under massive pressure should Tottenham get knocked out by AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night. 

Postecoglou has been stubborn in his setup and selection this season. His defenders will point to Tottenham’s injury list as an excuse, but he continues to play players out of their natural position, relies on inexperienced players in key positions and utilises his midfield in a way where they are continuously left with massive gaps to fill when the opposition turns over the ball. 

These midfield problems are intensified further with Rodrigo Bentancur’s suspension for the match after he picked up a booking in the first leg. 

AZ Alkmaar are set up nicely to play in transitions that cause Tottenham so many problems, Their high energy press combined with pacy wingers, such as Ernest Poku, means that AZ Alkmaar are capable of scoring her,e which would make Tottenham need at least two goals to stand a chance of progressing. 

AZ Alkmaar come into the game after a full week off, 4^th in the Eredivisie five-game form table and having won or drawn 75% of their away domestic matches this season. 

🏁 Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar Ref Watch

• Referee - Joao Pinheiro

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* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.