Tottenham Hotspur could be without 11 players for Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first-leg clash with AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion.

Tottenham lineup vs. AZ Alkmaar: Predicted XI for Europa League last-16 first-leg clash
By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter
Published: March 4 2025 | 22:27
Last updated: March 4 2025 | 23:07
Kulusevski concern, Van de Ven, Romero hope: Predicted Spurs lineup vs. AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham Hotspur could be without 11 players for Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first-leg clash with AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion.

Dejan Kulusevski has been pictured wearing a protective boot on his left foot and is reportedly set for at least a week on the sidelines. Radu Dragusin (ACL) is a long-term absentee, while Thursday’s game is set to come too soon for both Dominic Solanke (knee) and Richarlison (calf).

Ange Postecoglou has revealed that defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero (both thigh) have an “outside chance” of returning against AZ as they have both taken part in training, while Ben Davies (load management) will also be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Four players who are ineligible after being left out of Spurs’ Europa League squad for the knockout rounds are Antonin Kinsky, Fraser Forster, Timo Werner and Sergio Reguilon. The absence of the former two all but confirms that Guglielmo Vicario will continue between the sticks.

If Van de Ven and Romero are not fit to start, then Archie Gray and Kevin Danso are expected to resume their centre-back partnership, while Postecoglou will weigh up whether to start Pedro Porro or in-form Djed Spence at right-back as Destiny Udogie operates at left-back.

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will both be pushing to start in centre-midfield after beginning as substitutes in last week’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City. Bissouma could replace Rodrigo Bentancur in the deep-lying role, while Sarr may start ahead of either Lucas Bergvall or James Maddison.
Like Danso, fellow January signing Mathys Tel has been added to Tottenham’s Europa League squad and he is in contention to start in attack with Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min, who has scored seven major European knockout goals for Spurs; only Dimitar Berbatov (12) has scored more for the club this century.