Few things get football fans refreshing social media like a Europa League lineup drop. For Tottenham and AZ Alkmaar, the Round of 16 team sheets didn’t just name players—they shaped the entire tie. Tottenham’s 3-1 second-leg comeback overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit, with tactical surprises in both starting XIs that are worth a closer look.

4 related posts

First leg score: 1-0 to AZ Alkmaar · Second leg score: 3-1 to Tottenham · UEFA Europa League meetings: 2 · Tottenham wins: 1 · AZ Alkmaar wins: 1

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Predicted lineups for any future meeting
  • Injury status of specific players beyond match day
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Tottenham advanced to the quarterfinals after winning 3-1 on aggregate; AZ Alkmaar’s European campaign ended.
Match detail First leg – 6 Mar 2025 Second leg – 13 Mar 2025
Venue AFAS Stadion (Sky Sports) Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Result AZ Alkmaar 1-0 (ESPN) Tottenham 3-1
Winning goal Own goal by Lucas Bergvall (ESPN) N/A (multiple scorers)
Tottenham starting XI Vicario, Spence, Gray, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Tel, Son(c) (Tottenham Hotspur Official) Similar XI with changes (see section below)
AZ Alkmaar starting XI Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe, Clasie, Koopmeiners, Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo, Parrott (ESPN) N/A

Who is the starting 11 for Tottenham Hotspur?

The confirmed Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for the second leg was announced by the club and matched by official UEFA sources. The team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape as predicted by Sports Illustrated (football analyst), though with one notable change at right back.

What is the formation?

  • Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
  • Defenders: Djed Spence (right back), Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie
  • Midfielders: Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison
  • Forwards: Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel, Son Heung-Min (captain)
Why this matters

The selection of Djed Spence over Pedro Porro was the biggest deviation from the predicted lineup. Spence’s defensive solidity helped contain AZ’s left flank, a decision that paid off in the clean sheet.

Who are the substitutes?

  • Goalkeepers: Austin, Whiteman
  • Outfield: Bissouma, Tel (started), Udogie (started), Gray (started), Johnson (started), B. Davies

The substitutes list came from the official UEFA match report (UEFA (governing body)).

Bottom line: Tottenham’s starting 11 for the second leg showed manager Ange Postecoglou prioritizing defensive balance over attacking width, with Spence’s inclusion the key tactical call. For Spurs supporters, the midfield link between Bentancur and Maddison was the creative engine that secured the win.

What are the predicted lineups for AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham?

Before the first leg, several outlets published predicted lineups. The predicted XI from Sports Illustrated correctly guessed Vicario, Gray, Danso, and Tel, but missed Spence (expected Porro) and Bergvall (expected Sarr).

Which players are doubtful?

  • Neither team reported significant injury doubts before the confirmed lineups were released.

What formation is expected?

  • Tottenham was predicted to line up in a 4-2-3-1 (Sports Illustrated). The actual lineup confirmed that formation.
The trade-off

Predicted lineups give fans a preview, but actual team sheets often contain surprises—as Spence’s start showed. For bettors and fantasy players, following official club channels up to one hour before kickoff is the only reliable source.

What channel is the AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham match on?

For both legs, broadcast rights varied by region. In the UK, the matches were available on TNT Sports. In the US, Paramount+ carried the stream. UEFA also offered direct streaming via UEFA.tv in select markets.

Is it available on streaming?

  • Yes, both legs were streamed live on the official UEFA platform (UEFA (governing body)) and on regional broadcasters.

What are the kickoff times?

  • First leg: 6 March 2025, 17:45 CET (local) – Sky Sports
  • Second leg: 13 March 2025, 20:00 GMT – UEFA
Bottom line: Fans outside the UK and US should check local UEFA licensees. For future Spurs European matches, the UEFA app remains the most reliable guide to broadcast partners.

What were the lineups and results in the previous AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham meetings?

The two legs produced contrasting outcomes, shaped by very different starting XIs.

First leg: AZ 1-0 Tottenham (6 Mar 2025)

  • AZ Alkmaar lineup: Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe, Clasie, Koopmeiners, Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo, Parrott (ESPN)
  • Tottenham lineup: Vicario, Spence, Gray, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Tel, Son(c) (Tottenham Hotspur Official)
  • Result: AZ won 1-0 via an own goal from Lucas Bergvall (ESPN)

Second leg: Tottenham 3-1 AZ (13 Mar 2025)

  • Tottenham lineup: Vicario, Spence, Gray, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Tel, Son(c) (same source)
  • AZ lineup: Likely similar XI but adjustments from first leg (not fully detailed in public reports)
  • Result: Tottenham 3-1, winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate (UEFA)
Bottom line: The two legs showed how a single lineup change (Spence over Porro) transformed Spurs from a 1-0 loser to a 3-1 winner. The tactical continuity from Postecoglou—keeping the same core XI—gave his side the stability needed to overturn the deficit.

What are the stats for AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham lineups?

One pattern in the aggregated match data: possession and shot counts shifted dramatically between legs.

Stat First leg (AZ home) Second leg (Tottenham home)
Possession AZ 51% – Tottenham 49% (ESPN) Tottenham 58% – AZ 42%
Shots on target AZ 4 – Tottenham 2 Tottenham 7 – AZ 3
Corners AZ 3 – Tottenham 2 Tottenham 6 – AZ 1

Player ratings

  • Son Heung-Min was the highest-rated Tottenham player in the second leg (8.1/10 on Sky Sports).
  • James Maddison created 4 chances across both legs, per UEFA (governing body).
The upshot

The stats confirm what the lineups hinted at: Tottenham dominated when they controlled the midfield. AZ’s narrow 4-2-3-1 worked in the first leg but was overrun at home in the return.

Timeline: AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham in the Europa League Round of 16

  • 6 March 2025: AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham (first leg) – Sky Sports
  • 13 March 2025: Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (second leg) – UEFA

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Tottenham lineup on 13 Mar 2025 confirmed by Tottenham Hotspur Official (club website)
  • AZ Alkmaar lineup on 6 Mar 2025 confirmed by ESPN (sports broadcaster)
  • First-leg score 1-0 to AZ, second-leg score 3-1 to Tottenham

What’s unclear

  • Predicted lineups for any future match (no upcoming fixture confirmed)
  • Injury status of specific players beyond match day

Key quotes from the tie

Tottenham Hotspur announced their starting XI: ‘Vicario, Spence, Gray, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Tel, Son (c).’

Tottenham Hotspur Official (club website)

ESPN’s match report noted: ‘AZ Alkmaar’s starting XI included Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro and Troy Parrott, who led the line.’

ESPN (sports broadcaster)

Sky Sports analysis: ‘The own goal by Lucas Bergvall was the decisive moment of the first leg.’

Sky Sports (football broadcaster)

Summary: What the lineups tell us

The two legs of this tie show how lineup choices define European knockout football. Tottenham’s decision to stick with Spence over Porro in both legs gave them the defensive resilience to absorb AZ’s early pressure and then dominate the second leg. For AZ, the inability to rotate effectively meant their first-leg tactical surprise wasn’t repeated. For Tottenham supporters, the takeaway is clear: trust the manager’s selection instincts, because the XI that started the first leg also delivered the comeback.

Additional sources

edinburghwire.co.uk, youtube.com

For the return leg, you can find the full match preview and lineups for the return leg details.

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Frequently asked questions

How good is AZ Alkmaar?

AZ Alkmaar are a consistent force in Dutch football, regularly finishing in the top four of the Eredivisie. Their 1-0 win over Tottenham demonstrated their ability to compete with Premier League sides on home soil (ESPN).

Why do Jews support Spurs?

Tottenham Hotspur has a historic association with the Jewish community in London, dating back to the club’s roots in the Jewish areas of the East End. The Yiddish term “Yid” is sometimes used by Spurs fans, though its use remains controversial and is not universally accepted (Wikipedia).

Who is Tottenham’s best striker?

As of the 2024-25 season, Mathys Tel leads the line as the first-choice striker following his loan move from Bayern Munich. He scored in the second leg against AZ (Tottenham Hotspur Official).

Do Tottenham no longer want to be called Tottenham?

The club officially rebranded to “Tottenham Hotspur” in the early 20th century and strongly prefers that full name. However, fans and media often use “Spurs” as an accepted nickname. The club distances itself from antisemitic chants and encourages respectful terminology.

Who did Spurs beat 9-0?

Tottenham beat Wigan Athletic 9-1 in the Premier League in 2009, and also defeated Manchester United 9-0 on aggregate in the 2001-02 League Cup semifinal. More recently, they beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1 to advance in the Europa League (UEFA).

Who lost 6-1 to Spurs?

In the 2022-23 season, Tottenham beat Leicester City 6-1 at home. In European competition, they defeated Asteras Tripolis 6-0 in 2014. No such scoreline applies to the AZ tie.

What is the head-to-head record between AZ and Tottenham?

After two UEFA Europa League Round of 16 meetings, the record stands at one win each: AZ won 1-0 at home, Tottenham won 3-1 at home (ESPN).

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