There’s nothing quite like the drama of a two-legged tie, and Tottenham’s Europa League round-of-16 clash with AZ Alkmaar delivered exactly that. After a 1-0 loss in the first leg, Spurs had to overhaul the deficit at home on 13 March 2025 — and their lineup adjustments played a decisive role.
Match Date: 13 March 2025 ·
Final Score: Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (3-2 agg) ·
Scorer (Spurs): Wilson Odobert (2), James Maddison ·
First Leg: AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham (6 March 2025)
Quick snapshot
- Competition: UEFA Europa League round of 16 (UEFA (governing body))
- Dates: First leg 6 Mar, second leg 13 Mar 2025 (UEFA (governing body))
- Aggregate score: 3-2 to Tottenham (UEFA head-to-head)
- Formation: 4-3-3 (FotMob (football statistics platform))
- Starting XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Bergvall, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son (c) (Tottenham Hotspur (official club website))
- Formation: 4-2-3-1 (FotMob)
- Starting XI: Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Møller Wolfe; Clasie (c), Buurmeester, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Parrott, Poku (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Second leg score: 3-1 (UEFA)
- Aggregate: 3-2 (UEFA)
- Scorers: Wilson Odobert (2), James Maddison; Peer Koopmeiners (AZ) (ESPN UK (sports broadcaster))
The table below summarises the key match facts.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match Date | 13 March 2025 |
| Competition | UEFA Europa League Round of 16 |
| Venue | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| Final Score | Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (3-2 agg) (UEFA) |
| Scorers | Wilson Odobert (2), James Maddison (Spurs); Peer Koopmeiners (AZ) (ESPN UK) |
| First Leg | AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham (6 March 2025) (UEFA) |
Who scored for Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar?
Wilson Odobert was the standout performer in the second leg, scoring twice for Tottenham. The first of his goals came early in the first half, and he added a second before the break to put Spurs firmly in control. James Maddison also got on the scoresheet in the second half, ensuring a 3-1 win on the night. Peer Koopmeiners pulled one back for AZ Alkmaar, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
Wilson Odobert’s brace
- Odobert’s two goals flipped the tie after a disappointing first-leg result. According to ESPN UK (sports broadcaster), the winger was the key attacking outlet in a front three that also included Dominic Solanke and Heung-min Son.
James Maddison’s strike
- Maddison, who started in the number 10 role as part of a 4-3-3, sealed the win with a well-taken goal in the 65th minute. The Tottenham Hotspur (official club website) confirmed his inclusion in the starting XI, a change from pre-match predictions.
The implication: Tottenham’s midfield creativity, largely absent in the first leg, was restored with Maddison’s presence. His goal underlined the value of squad rotation and tactical flexibility.
With two goals from Odobert and one from Maddison, Spurs demonstrated that a 1-0 first-leg deficit can be overturned quickly when the right players are deployed. For AZ, the lesson is that their defensive structure, which held in Alkmaar, couldn’t withstand the intensity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
What is Tottenham’s predicted lineup?
Before the match, several media outlets published predicted lineups based on team news and injury updates. The most detailed forecast came from Sports Illustrated (sports magazine), which projected a different starting XI than what actually took the field.
Predicted XI based on team news
- Sports Illustrated’s prediction: Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Tel, Son. (Sports Illustrated)
- Actual confirmed XI (fotmob): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Bergvall, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son. (Tottenham Hotspur)
The table below compares the predicted and actual starting XIs.
| Position | Predicted (SI) | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Guglielmo Vicario | Guglielmo Vicario |
| RB | Pedro Porro | Pedro Porro |
| CB | Archie Gray | Cristian Romero |
| CB | Kevin Danso | Micky van de Ven |
| LB | Destiny Udogie | Djed Spence |
| CM | Rodrigo Bentancur | Pape Sarr |
| CM | Pape Sarr (predicted double pivot) | Lucas Bergvall |
| CM | Lucas Bergvall (predicted double pivot) | James Maddison |
| RW | Brennan Johnson | Wilson Odobert |
| ST | Mathys Tel | Dominic Solanke |
| LW | Heung-min Son | Heung-min Son |
Key differences: Kevin Danso and Archie Gray did not start at centre-back; instead, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were paired. Destiny Udogie was benched, with Djed Spence starting at left-back. Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson also missed the starting XI, while James Maddison and Dominic Solanke came in.
Predicted formation and tactics
- The predicted 4-3-3 shape was retained, but the personnel changes shifted the balance. With Romero and van de Ven restored, the defence had more pace and aggression. Maddison’s presence in midfield allowed Son to stay wide and Odobert to cut inside. (FotMob)
The pattern: Pre-match predictions often miss last-minute fitness assessments and tactical surprises. In this case, Tottenham’s manager chose experience over youth in defence and added creativity in midfield — a gamble that paid off.
Anyone relying on predicted lineups for betting or fantasy football should know that official team sheets, released about an hour before kick-off, are the only reliable source. The gap between prediction and reality can be wide — here, five positions were different from the most-circulated forecast.
The five-position difference underscores the value of waiting for official team news.
What were the actual starting lineups for Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar?
Both clubs confirmed their XIs on the official UEFA match page and their own websites. The lineups reveal each team’s approach for the decisive second leg.
Tottenham starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
- Defence: Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence
- Midfield: Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr, James Maddison
- Forward: Wilson Odobert, Dominic Solanke, Heung-min Son (captain)
- Formation: 4-3-3 (Tottenham Hotspur)
AZ Alkmaar starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Rome Owusu-Oduro
- Defence: Seiya Maikuma, Wouter Goes, Alexandre Penetra, Møller Wolfe
- Midfield: Jordy Clasie (captain), Sven Buurmeester, Peer Koopmeiners
- Forward: Ruben van Bommel (substituted early), Troy Parrott, Ernest Poku
- Formation: 4-2-3-1 (Tottenham Hotspur)
Substitutes
- Tottenham: Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma, Mikey Moore, Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel, Dane Scarlett (Tottenham Hotspur)
- AZ Alkmaar: Verhulst, Zoet, Martins Indi, Belic, Dekker, Smit, de Wit, Meerdink, Bouziane, Dijkstra, Van Duijn (Tottenham Hotspur)
The trade-off: Tottenham’s starting XI showed a clear preference for first-choice centre-backs and a creative midfielder over younger prospects. AZ, missing key players through injury, opted for a cautious 4-2-3-1 with Troy Parrott leading the line — a decision that limited their attacking threat until the final 20 minutes.
Timeline signal
First leg: AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham (UEFA)
Second leg: Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (3-2 agg) (UEFA)
Wilson Odobert scores twice, James Maddison scores; Peer Koopmeiners scores for AZ (ESPN UK)
Clarity check: what we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Tottenham starting XI (from official club website) (Tottenham Hotspur)
- AZ Alkmaar starting XI (from official club website)
- Wilson Odobert scored twice (ESPN UK)
- Aggregate score 3-2 to Tottenham (UEFA)
- First leg score 1-0 to AZ (UEFA)
What’s unclear
- Other scorers beyond Odobert, Maddison, Koopmeiners (only three goals on the night)
- Exact attendance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Referee name for the second leg
- Full substitution timing for both teams
- Detailed statistics (possession, shots, corners) for the second leg
What it means going forward
This tie showcased the importance of lineup selection in high-stakes knockout football. Tottenham’s ability to bring back their first-choice centre-backs and a playmaker like Maddison was the difference between trailing 1-0 and advancing 3-2. For AZ Alkmaar, the inability to play their strongest XI in the second leg — due to suspensions and injuries — exposed the gap between Eredivisie and Europa League knockout depth. For Spurs fans, the question now is whether the same lineup can carry them through the quarterfinals. For AZ, the focus shifts back to domestic form and developing the young players who gained valuable European minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What competition was the match part of?
UEFA Europa League round of 16 (Wikipedia)
Where was the first leg played?
AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar (UEFA)
Who scored for Spurs?
Wilson Odobert (2) and James Maddison (ESPN UK)
What was the aggregate score?
Tottenham won 3-2 on aggregate.
Which goalkeeper started for Tottenham?
Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
How many substitutes did Tottenham make?
Eight substitutes were named; actual substitutions used are not fully recorded in available sources.
What was the formation of AZ Alkmaar?
4-2-3-1 (FotMob)
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.