The first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 between AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham has come to a close, and it’s time to evaluate the performances of Ange Postecoglou’s men. It was a frustrating evening for Spurs, who struggled to break down a resilient Dutch side, ultimately succumbing to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Throughout the match, we assessed each player’s contribution, rating them on a scale of 1-10. Some players impressed, while others failed to step up when it mattered most. Let’s dive into the individual performances.
Tottenham Player Ratings vs AZ Alkmaar
Guglielmo Vicario – 8
The Italian shot-stopper was arguably Tottenham’s best player on the pitch. He made a couple of crucial saves to keep the deficit at just one goal, most notably denying Troy Parrott in a one-on-one situation in the first half. Without his interventions, Spurs could have been in a far worse position heading into the second leg.
Djed Spence – 5
Spence showed plenty of willingness to push forward from deep, but his decision-making let him down time and time again. His attacking intent was evident, but he kept running into trouble before he could make a significant impact. A frustrating night for the full-back, who struggled to impose himself on the game.
Kevin Danso – 4.5
Danso had a mixed evening. While he avoided making any glaring mistakes, he was far from solid. A few small errors crept into his game, but fortunately, none of them directly led to AZ Alkmaar extending their lead. He did have some good moments carrying the ball forward but lacked the defensive authority needed in a match like this.
Archie Gray – 7
One of the few bright sparks for Tottenham, the teenager once again displayed his maturity beyond his years. Gray was composed, alert, and decisive, making several key blocks and interceptions to thwart AZ’s relentless attacking efforts. No matter where he plays, he delivers. Another solid outing for the youngster.
Destiny Udogie – 3
Udogie had one of his worst performances in a Spurs shirt. Normally an energetic presence on the left, he was completely nullified in this match. He barely ventured forward to support the attack and was defensively vulnerable as well. A night to forget.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 2
After an extended rest, big things were expected from Bentancur, but he looked sluggish and off the pace from the first whistle. He was careless in possession, struggled to dictate the tempo, and lacked the fight Spurs needed in midfield. His dip in form continues, and it’s becoming a growing concern for Postecoglou.
Lucas Bergvall – 6
It was a cruel night for Bergvall, as his unfortunate own goal proved to be the decisive moment. However, credit must be given for the way he responded. He put in a solid shift after the early mishap, showing great determination and work rate. His passing was tidy, and his movement intelligent, but the own goal overshadowed what was otherwise a decent display.
James Maddison – 2
Spurs needed creativity and leadership from Maddison, but he offered neither. He was completely ineffective, failing to carve out any meaningful chances before being hooked off. This was a game where Tottenham desperately needed him to step up, and he simply didn’t. A hugely disappointing performance.
Brennan Johnson – 2.5
Johnson was predictable and easy for AZ Alkmaar to defend against. His direct running, which can be so dangerous when executed well, was completely nullified. He failed to generate any real goal-scoring opportunities and was largely anonymous throughout the match.
Mathys Tel – 3.5
A frustrating evening for Tel. The young forward struggled with his back to goal, often slowing Tottenham’s attacks instead of advancing them. He didn’t manage a single shot before being substituted at half-time, underlining his ineffective display.
Heung-min Son – 2
A night to forget for the Spurs captain. Son’s usual sharpness and clinical finishing were nowhere to be seen. He wasted several attacks in the first half and had multiple shots blocked. After being moved centrally in the second half, he became a complete non-factor. Simply put, he lacked influence in every area of his game.
Substitutes
Wilson Odobert – 4
Came on at half-time for Tel but struggled to impact the game. Couldn’t find space or create anything meaningful in the final third.
Pedro Porro – 4
An average cameo. He didn’t do anything particularly wrong, but he also didn’t add much to Tottenham’s efforts to turn the game around.
Pape Sarr – 5
Brought some energy into the midfield when he was introduced, but like most of his teammates, he failed to make a real difference.
Dominic Solanke – 5.5
Looked sharp and eager to contribute when he came on, but his night ended prematurely due to yet another injury after colliding with Owusu-Oduro. A frustrating turn of events for both the player and the team.
Dane Scarlett – N/A
Came on to replace the injured Solanke but had no real time to make an impact.
Final Thoughts
Tottenham have left themselves with work to do in the second leg after a disappointing performance in the Netherlands. Too many key players underperformed, and the team lacked the intensity and creativity needed to break down AZ Alkmaar’s stubborn defense.
With the return leg at home, Ange Postecoglou’s side must drastically improve if they want to keep their Europa League hopes alive. The likes of Maddison, Bentancur, and Son will need to step up, while defensive lapses must be minimized.
Can Spurs turn it around at home, or will their European journey come to an early end? The pressure is on.
Tottenham player ratings vs AZ Alkmaar – 2/10 for three shocking senior stars
