Wilson Odobert helps Spurs overcome AZ Alkmaar and their nerves to keep season alive

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Wilson Odobert looks to have scored the game’s winning goal - Getty Images/Justin Setterfield

For Tottenham Hotspur the season remains alive. For Ange Postecoglou he fights on. It felt like it could – that it would – have been over for the head coach had they not over-turned a first-leg deficit to win this Europa League tie and earn a place in the last eight.

Maybe not over right now but, almost certainly, at the end of this campaign. It still might be. But that claim from Postecoglou that he always wins a trophy in his second season is one he can still argue for. There is still that chance and the campaign goes on to at least April.

On this evidence it is, however, a slim one. Yes, they knocked out AZ Alkmaar but this was error-strewn, nervy and intensely vulnerable even if there was a glimpse of the future with two goals – his first for the club – from Wilson Odobert.

Indeed there is even more brightness, with Spurs becoming the first side in major European competition history to have five players under the age of 21 score a goal in the same season. But you do not win prizes for that and Spurs have always been about potential. Now they need to realise it.

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10:25 PM GMT​

Ange Postecoglou’s verdict​

I thought we were really in control. We’re our own worst enemies at times – we let them back into the game and it got a bit nervy towards the end but I thought we deserved to progress.

[What impressed you the most?] Just our composure, particularly at the beginning of the game. When you’re 1-0 down from the first leg there’s always that propensity to rush things or panic but I never got that sense. I’m really pleased for the boys.

We’ve got a big game Sunday so we have to prepare for that. My kids had their school concert tonight so I wanna get some feedback on that – they’re doing a Beatles song so I wanna know how that went!

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10:06 PM GMT​

Spurs do Chelsea a favour​

Chelsea will be pleased their London rivals have won tonight. Spurs’ success means Chelsea will play their Europa Conference League quarter-final first-leg game away from home, with Spurs entertaining their Europa League last eight opponents in the first leg. Had Tottenham been eliminated, then Chelsea would have played at home first.

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10:05 PM GMT​

James Maddison’s reaction​

When we went to applaud the away fans after the first leg I was trying to send a message: ‘Stay calm. Listen, we know we weren’t good enough but they’ve still got to come to our place.’

We haven’t achieved anything yet. We’re in the quarter-final, and we kick off and we look forward to it.

Over the last few months when we spoke about having injuries, tonight is a perfect example. You’re stood in the tunnel and you look at the team, and it’s a group of men: Micky’s back, Romero back, Vic’s back, I’m there, Sonny. We’ve got men there, you know. With young lads as well, but when you have the spine of people who are experienced, it makes a big difference.

It was a solid performance and I think we’re deservedly through. We haven’t achieved anything yet but we’re into the quarter-finals and we’re excited.

I thought Wilson Odobert was absolutely outstanding.

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09:54 PM GMT​

FT: Spurs 3 AZ Alkmaar 1 (agg: 3-2)​

That’s it! Spurs will play Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals after a stirring win over AZ Alkmaar. Wilson Odobert scored once in each half, with James Maddison getting a goal inbetween, and overall Spurs were deserved winners.

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Spurs celebrate Wilson Odobert’s winning goal. - James Gill/Getty Images

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09:53 PM GMT​

90+3 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Spurs are almost there. They had a very nervous spell at 2-1 but since Odobert’s goal they’ve managed the game pretty well.

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09:50 PM GMT​

90 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Poku’s deep cross is volleyed tamely into the side netting by Smit. It was an awkward chance but he didn’t attack the ball with any conviction.

Four minutes of added time.

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09:48 PM GMT​

89 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Excellent goalkeeping from Vicario, who comes a long way off his line to claim a cross from Penetra and calm everything down.

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09:46 PM GMT​

87 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

AZ substitution Kristijan Belic comes on for Wouter Goes. It’s now or never for AZ.

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09:44 PM GMT​

85 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Spurs substitution Ben Davies replaces the excellent Lucas Bergvall.

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09:42 PM GMT​

83 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Another chance for AZ! A cross from the right is heading over from six yards by Meerdink, who leapt as high as possible but couldn’t get over the ball. Parrott was waiting behind him and would have had a much clearer chance, though he may have been offside.

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09:40 PM GMT​

80 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

AZ substitution Mexx Meerdink on, Seiya Maikuma off.

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09:39 PM GMT​

79 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Chance for AZ! Parrott’s shot is pushed away by Vicario, falling to his right, and Bissouma boots the follow-up shot behind for a corner.

BIG save and block between Guglielmo Vicario and Yves Bissouma

You can see how much it means to the Tottenham keeper

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/IldAKNBslZ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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09:37 PM GMT​

78 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2)​

Double substitution for Spurs Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma come on for the goalscorers James Maddison and Wilson Odobert.

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Wilson Odobert scores his second. - Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

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09:34 PM GMT​

Goal!​

74 min: Spurs 3 AZ 1 (agg: 3-2; Odobert) Wilson Odobert’s second goal has put Spurs back in front! It stemmed from a slick move down the left involving Maddison, Son and finally Spence, whose cross was flicked on by Solanke and turned in at the far post by Odobert. At first he looked offside but replays show he was being played on by a defender at the near post.

From back to front… what a goal by Tottenham ‍

Wilson Odobert at the double — Spurs back in front in the tie!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/9MTEQcC1le

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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09:30 PM GMT​

71 min: Spurs 2 AZ 1 (agg: 2-2)​

It’s really tense now, with many Spurs fans audibly fearing the worst. The Koopmeiners goal has changed the mood completely.

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Peer Koopmeiners (left) celebrates his goal with Alexandre Penetra. - TONY O BRIEN/Reuters

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09:28 PM GMT​

68 min: Spurs 2 AZ 1 (agg: 2-2)​

AZ substitution Kees Smit comes on for Zico Buurmeester. He has a half chance within seconds, having a shot blocked after more jittery defending from Spurs.

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09:27 PM GMT​

67 min: Spurs 2 AZ 1 (agg: 2-2)​

Maddison whips a decent effort over the bar from the left edge of the area.

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09:24 PM GMT​

Goal!​

63 min: Spurs 2 AZ 1 (agg: 2-2; Koopmeiners) It’s all square! A mistake from Spurs has been ruthlessly punished by AZ. Bergvall and Odobert got in a tangle just outside the area, allowing Peer Koopmeiners to run through and smash the ball past Vicario.

A miscommunication between Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert allows Peer Koopmeiners to pounce for AZ Alkmaar

It's 2-2 on aggregate!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/niz494tZMx

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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09:20 PM GMT​

61 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

Spurs substitution Archie Gray comes on for Micky van de Ven. He doesn’t look injured but Spurs are managing his minutes very carefully.

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Micky van de Ven applauds the Spurs fans. - Paul Childs/Action Images

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09:17 PM GMT​

58 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

AZ work a short corner neatly on the right, eventually pushing the ball infield for Clasie, unmarked in the D, to shoot this far wide of the far post. Lovely effort.

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09:17 PM GMT​

57 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

Great defending by Van de Ven! Poku went on a blistering run, straight at the heart of the defence, but Van de Ven went through the gears and made a very important tackle in the penalty area.

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09:12 PM GMT​

53 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

5 - Tottenham Hotspur are the first side in major European competition history to have five players under the age of 21 score a goal in the same season (Lankshear, Ajayi, Moore, Scarlett & Odobert). Opportunities. pic.twitter.com/LyqwQ7lhtD

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 13, 2025

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09:12 PM GMT​

52 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

Son plays a one-two with Sarr in the area, only to overrun the ball and give AZ a goalkick. The second half has been really open.

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09:10 PM GMT​

50 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1)​

A cross from the right finds its way to Parrott, who is slightly off balance and eventually forces a shot that is blocked. That was half a chance.

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09:08 PM GMT​

Goal!​

48 min: Spurs 2 AZ 0 (agg: 2-1; Maddison) James Maddison puts Spurs ahead on aggregate with a fine goal! Pedro Porro won the ball near the halfway line and Spurs were away on the break. Odobert found Maddison, who exchanged passes with Son before sidefooting coolly past Owusu-Odoro from 15 yards.

Son Heung-min and James Maddison link up

Tottenham turn the tie around!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/dIQj3usZqv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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09:07 PM GMT​

47 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Vicario receives a backpass, tries to turn away from Parrott and almost makes a horrible mess of the whole thing. In the end he has just enough time to boot the ball out for a throw-in.

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09:05 PM GMT​

46 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

AZ get the second half under way having made a half-time substitution: Mees de Wit is on for Ibrahim Sadiq.

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08:52 PM GMT​

HT: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Wilson Odobert’s first goal for Spurs has brought them level on aggregate against AZ Alkmaar. They were the better team without creating many clear chances; in fact Odobert’s goal was one of only two shots on target at either end.

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08:50 PM GMT​

45+2 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Odobert is fouled just outside the area. Maddison and Pedro Porro have a minor row over who should take it, with Maddison eventually winning out. His free-kick hits the wall and deflects behind for a corner.

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08:46 PM GMT​

43 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

A poor pass out of defence from Romero is knocked back towrds Buurmeester, who drags a shot wide from the edge of the D. That might be AZ’s first attempt at goal.

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08:43 PM GMT​

41 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Spurs continue to push for a second. Son has another shot blocked, with Odobert slicing the rebound over the bar on the volley.

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08:39 PM GMT​

37 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Son leads a Spurs break, running half the length of the field before his shot is blocked by a stretching defender. Bergvall collects the loose ball, 20 yards out, and curls over the bar.

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08:36 PM GMT​

34 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Son zips infield from the left, uses Solanke by not using him and curls a low shot from 25 yards. It’s not in the corner and Owusu-Oduro gets down to his left to make a comfortable save.

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08:33 PM GMT​

31 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1)​

Another good press, this time from Spence, almost leads to a chance. His pass towards Solanke is cut out just inside the area.

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08:29 PM GMT​

Goal!​

26 min: Spurs 1 AZ 0 (agg: 1-1; Odobert) Spurs are level on aggregate! Son pressed Goes, whose clearance hit Son and ricocheted infield to Solanke. He calmly squared the ball to Odobert, who swept an emphatic first-time finish past Owusu-Oduro from 12 yards. It’s his first goal for Spurs.

A defensive calamity from AZ

Wilson Odobert capitalises to bring Spurs level in the tie

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/2a0MHndise

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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08:27 PM GMT​

25 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Poku runs at Romero down the AZ left and is fouled. Koopmeiners’ free-kick is headed behind by Sarr, although the referee gives a goalkick.

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08:25 PM GMT​

22 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Son’s big, inswinging cross is punched away decisively by Owusu-Oduro. AZ are doing pretty well defensively and have restricted Spurs to... not much.

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Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro punches clear. - Ian Walton/AP

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08:20 PM GMT​

18 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Son scoots down the left to win Spurs’ first corner. He takes it himself but it’s not a great delivery and, though Bergvall seems to win another corner, the referee wrongly gives a goalkick.

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08:17 PM GMT​

16 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Spurs have had around 70 per cent possession so far. In truth it feels even more dominant than that - most of the game has been played in the AZ half, even if Spurs are yet to work the keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.

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08:15 PM GMT​

14 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Micky van de Ven knows all about Alkmaar. Speaking to the Tottenham website, van de Ven was asked where his favourite restaurant is. The Dutchman said: “I’ll probably say a restaurant in Alkmaar close to my dad’s house called De Koning, which means The King. The steak there is really good!”

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08:12 PM GMT​

11 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Maddison plays a nice one-two on the left and curls a dangerous inswinging cross that is cut out well at the far post by Penetra. That was Spurs’ first really threatening attack.

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Alexandre Penetra makes an important interception. - TONY O BRIEN/Reuters

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08:08 PM GMT​

6 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Nothing much to report. Spurs are having all of the ball but so far AZ have kept them at arm’s length.

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Alexandre Penetra and Dominic Solanke in action. - TONY O BRIEN/Reuters

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08:05 PM GMT​

3 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

Plenty of early possession in the middle third for Spurs. The atmosphere is terrific.

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08:02 PM GMT​

1 min: Spurs 0 AZ 0 (agg: 0-1)​

And they’re off. James Maddison gets things going, with Spurs kicking from right to left as we watch.

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07:56 PM GMT​

Make no mistake how much this means​

The atmosphere is building inside the stadium. They are now showing highlights of Tottenham’s previous European exploits from the 1960s onwards on the big screen including that dramatic night in Amsterdam when they reached the Champions League Final in 2019. This may be only a last-16 Europa League tie but make no mistake how much it means. This is Spurs’ season over if they fail to win.

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The Spurs captain Son Heung-min could be a key man tonight. - NEIL HALL/Shutterstock

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07:51 PM GMT​

Full time: Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Ajax (agg: 6-2)​

Tottenham will not have it easy in the quarter-final if they beat AZ Alkmaar tonight. The winner of tonight’s tie will face Eintracht Frankfurt, who are fourth in the Bundesliga and knocked out Ajax in the last 16. Frankfurt won the second leg 4-1 with Mario Gotze (remember him?) scoring twice.

Rolling back the years ️

Mario Gotze scores from 50 yards out as Frankfurt DESTROY Ajax! pic.twitter.com/6kPhzDsZHt

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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07:41 PM GMT​

Postecoglou’s moment of truth​

It feels like a huge game for Ange Postecoglou. The pre-match talk is whether the obituaries over his time as Tottenham Hotspur head coach will have to be written tomorrow should they get knocked out of the Europa League - ending their hopes of a trophy, Champions League qualification and, effectively, their season.

Postecoglou’s agents Frank Trimboli and Leon Angel are in attendance but that is not unusual. Their agency CAA Base has a box at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium... conveniently located behind the press box.

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James Maddison chats to Micky van de Ven during the Spurs warm-up. - Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters

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07:27 PM GMT​

Frankfurt await the winners​

Eintracht Frankfurt are now 4-1 ahead against Ajax, 6-2 on aggregate, so it’s fair to assume tonight’s winners will meet them in the quarter-final.

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The AZ Alkmaar away supporters are hoping to see their team reach the quarter-finals. - NEIL HALL/EPA

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07:23 PM GMT​

Big Ange’s pre-match thoughts​

"They're for the big occasions, and tonight's certainly a big occasion"

Ange Postecoglou talks the importance of returning figures ahead of a "big European night" for Tottenham against AZ Alkmaar.

️ @RachStringer

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/zEcCX4FfaY

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025

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06:56 PM GMT​

AZ Alkmaar team news​

AZ make one change from last week’s first leg: Ibrahim Saqid replaces the injured Mayckel Lahdo in attack.

' !

Wissels: Verhulst, Zoet, Martins Indi, Belić, Dekker, Smit, De Wit, Meerdink, Bouziane, Dijkstra en Van Duijn.

Volg de hele wedstrijd in ons liveblog: https://t.co/p8k3RAjzE2#AZAlkmaar#totaz#UEL#TheFutureIsOurspic.twitter.com/kqxAMDjvLa

— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) March 13, 2025

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06:52 PM GMT​

Tottenham Hotspur team news​

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both start in defence for Spurs, while Wilson Odobert is preferred to Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson in attack.

Tonight's Spurs XI pic.twitter.com/EiEeg1osgT

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 13, 2025

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06:35 PM GMT​

Good evening​

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute coverage of Tottenham Hotspur v AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. It’s Spurs’ biggest game of the season – and potentially of Ange Postecoglou’s time as manager. Win and they will keep alive their chance of winning a trophy in Postecoglou’s second year. Lose and – just like that – their season will be over.

Spurs need to overcome a 1-0 deficit after a meek performance in the first leg in Alkmaar. They followed that with a slightly fortuitous 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, though there was some good news in the return from injury of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

“You want your big, experienced players to perform in these games, for sure,” said Postecoglou. “We have relied a lot on our younger players who have progressed really well. But on a night like this, having Romero, Maddison, Vicario and Sonny out there, the whole leadership group, will definitely be beneficial.”

AZ are intrepid and dangerous opponents. They beat Roma and Fenerbahce in the league stage and hammered Galatasaray in the previous round. One of AZ’s dangermen is former Spurs striker Troy Parrott, who joined them in the summer after an eye-catching loan spell at Excelsior last season. This is their second visit to north London this season: they were beaten 1-0 by Spurs in the league stage in October.

A similar score tonight would take the tea to extra-time, then maybe penalties. It could be a long night.

Kick off is at 8pm. The winners will almost certainly Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final; they lead Ajax 2-0 on the night, 4-1 on aggregate

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The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. - Ben Whitley/PA
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