Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
AZ Alkmaar are approaching their Europa League match against Tottenham Hotspur in poor form. Their opponents have repeatedly identified gaps in AZ Alkmaar’s defence, and the players require rest. It is possible that AZ Alkmaar have already peaked in this competition and may lack the necessary energy to compete effectively against Tottenham Hotspur.
AZ Alkmaar
AZ Alkmaar’s performance in the knockout round against Galatasaray (6:3 on aggregate) involved conceding several goals. Against Galatasaray, they conceded three goals from 1.51 xGA, which demonstrates their defensive challenges even under minimal pressure. Last weekend, they were defeated by Heerenveen (1:3), with the opposition from the lower half of the standings generating 1.92 xG.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have used their FA Cup elimination to prepare for the start of the Europa League Round of 16. Before their narrow 0:1 defeat to Manchester City, they secured wins over Manchester United (1:0) and Ipswich Town (4:1) in the Premier League, with their last 270 minutes in the league producing 4.84 xG. In the group stage, Tottenham Hotspur advanced by scoring 17 goals in eight games, with only Galatasaray scoring more (19).
AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur Prediction
In the group stage, AZ Alkmaar lost narrowly in London (0:1), where Richarlison de Andrade highlighted the difference in quality (0.41–1.87 in xG). In Alkmaar, Tottenham Hotspur are likely to secure a win.
