AZ Alkmaar’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie was met with a measured response from Dutch media, who refrained from overly celebrating the result. While the Eredivisie side impressed with their performance, there was an acknowledgment that the job is far from done, especially with a challenging second leg awaiting them in London.
Spurs Struggle in Alkmaar
Ange Postecoglou’s side entered the match as one of the favorites to win the competition, but their performance in the Netherlands did little to reinforce that status. AZ’s high-energy approach and disciplined defense frustrated Spurs throughout the game, leaving the Premier League club with an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in the return leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In truth, the hosts could and perhaps should have secured a more comfortable lead. The only goal of the match came in the 18th minute when a cross from former Spurs striker Troy Parrott was inadvertently turned into his own net by Lucas Bergvall. Moments later, Parrott himself had a golden opportunity to double AZ’s advantage but failed to convert, letting his former club off the hook.
The second half saw some improvement from Spurs, with Son Heung-min and Bergvall attempting to spark their attack, but AZ’s defensive organization remained resolute. Tottenham struggled to create clear-cut chances, managing only a single shot on target, which came in the 88th minute—an indictment of their bluntness in front of goal.
Postecoglou, whose debut season at Spurs has been marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, acknowledged the poor display after the match. “Yeah, it wasn’t great from us tonight—pretty much all facets of the game,” he admitted. “We didn’t really get to grips with any part of the game. We struggled to gain any momentum with the ball, and we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be without the ball.”
Dutch Media Reacts to Spurs’ Lackluster Display
Dutch outlets took note of Tottenham’s struggles and issued a cautious warning to AZ ahead of the second leg.
Voetbalzone highlighted Spurs’ failure to establish themselves in the match, noting: “Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, could not get into the game. They had a few small chances via Son and Johnson, but the best illustration of their night was a free-kick attempt in a promising position that went completely wrong.” The report pointed out that while Spurs showed slight improvement early in the second half, AZ’s defense grew in confidence and successfully neutralized the English side’s attack.
Football Oranje emphasized the contrast between AZ’s domestic struggles and their sharp performance in Europe, stating: “AZ Alkmaar sealed a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. AZ were poor in a league defeat to Heerenveen at the weekend but dominated from the start against Tottenham.” The article also noted that Spurs’ only real shot on goal came in the dying minutes of the match, underscoring their lack of attacking fluency.
NL Times echoed similar sentiments, detailing AZ’s dominant first-half display and Spurs’ vulnerability in defense. They highlighted a moment before halftime when Tottenham barely survived a chaotic goalmouth scramble, with multiple AZ attempts being blocked in quick succession. “There were not many attacks of note in the second half,” the outlet added, explaining that both sides struggled to create meaningful chances after the break.
What Comes Next?
While AZ will be pleased with their first-leg victory, the Dutch media has stressed that their task is far from complete. Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium presents a far greater challenge, and AZ will need to brace for a more aggressive and determined Spurs side in the return leg.
For Postecoglou and his players, the second leg represents an opportunity to salvage their European campaign. With a passionate home crowd behind them and the necessity of a response, Tottenham will be expected to show far more urgency and quality than they managed in Alkmaar. Anything less could see them suffer an early and disappointing exit from the competition.
Dutch National media fires AZ Alkmaar new warning to Tottenham Hotspur after dominant display in the first leg ahead of 2nd Leg
