Tottenham Hotspur will look to maintain their momentum in the Europa League as they face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the last-16 tie tonight. With key players returning to the squad, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou will have a number of options to choose from, although there are still some injury concerns and fitness doubts surrounding certain players.
Key Players Returning
Tottenham will be significantly boosted by the returns of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke, all of whom have recovered from injuries and are available for selection.
Romero, who has been sidelined since early December, is now fit again after a lengthy absence. The Argentine has been back in full training for over a week, and Postecoglou could slot him into the starting XI at centre-back alongside Kevin Danso.
Van de Ven is also fit after recovering from a hamstring injury. However, Postecoglou may choose a cautious approach with the Dutch defender, given his previous setbacks after brief comebacks. Van de Ven will likely be on the bench or used as a second-half substitute for the Europa League tie.
Solanke has been out for seven weeks with a knee injury, but his return would provide a significant boost to Spurs’ attacking options. Despite this, Postecoglou might save the striker for their upcoming Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Sunday, which could see Heung-min Son deputize as the central striker in the Europa League.
Injuries and Absences
Dejan Kulusevski, who has been an important figure for Tottenham, will be missing due to a foot injury. He is expected to be out until after the international break.
Richarlison continues to struggle with a calf injury, while Ben Davies has also been left at home due to an unspecified issue. The absences of these key players leave Postecoglou with limited options in certain areas.
Dragusin is another player missing from the squad for tonight’s fixture due to injury, while players like Kinsky, Werner, and Forster are ineligible for selection.
Potential Line-Up
With the returning players and the absentees, Postecoglou will have to make some tactical decisions in terms of the starting formation and player selection. Here is a predicted Tottenham XI for tonight’s match against AZ Alkmaar:
Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian shot-stopper has been consistent in goal and will start for Spurs.
Right-back: Pedro Porro – Porro has been solid at right-back and should retain his place in the lineup.
Centre-backs: Cristian Romero and Kevin Danso – With Van de Ven still recovering, Romero should slot back into the defence alongside Danso, who has been one of the standout performers this season.
Left-back: Djed Spence – Spence has the edge over Destiny Udogie for this match, as Udogie could be rested or rotated.
Midfield: Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall – The midfield battle is expected to be crucial, and Bentancur and Bergvall have started together in the last four games, so Postecoglou may keep faith in this pairing. Gray, a young talent, could feature in a central role to add energy and creativity.
Forwards: Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, and Heung-min Son – Son may operate as the central forward, particularly if Solanke is kept in reserve. Johnson and Odobert are likely to feature in wide attacking roles, with Johnson continuing to impress after being named in the starting XI against Manchester City.
Injuries & Ineligibilities
Injured: Kulusevski, Richarlison, Ben Davies, Dragusin
Ineligible: Kinsky, Werner, Forster
Match Details
Date and Time: 5.45pm GMT, Thursday, March 6, 2025
Venue: AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar
TV Channel and Live Stream: TNT Sports
Tottenham will be hoping to take a strong lead back to London ahead of the second leg, and with some key players returning, Postecoglou will be confident of securing a positive result.
