Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up to face Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in the Premier League. With the domestic campaign nearing its conclusion, Spurs’ chances of securing European qualification through the league appear slim. As a result, their Europa League campaign has taken on even greater significance, serving as their best hope of salvaging the season and securing a return to Champions League football at White Hart Lane next term.
Ange Postecoglou’s men are coming off a disappointing 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday night. The result leaves them with everything to play for in next week’s return leg in North London, where they will need a strong performance to overturn the deficit and advance to the quarter-finals.
Premier League Form and Bournemouth’s Challenge
In terms of league form, Tottenham had been riding a three-match winning streak before their run was halted by a 1-0 loss to reigning champions Manchester City in their most recent domestic outing. While Spurs’ performances have remained relatively solid, the looming importance of the Europa League could see them take a more measured approach in the Premier League.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have endured a rough patch of late, losing three of their last four matches. However, their overall performances this season have been commendable under Andoni Iraola, and they have already proven they can trouble Spurs. Back in December, the Cherries secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium, courtesy of a Dean Huijsen header. With that result still fresh in their minds, revenge will undoubtedly be on the agenda for Postecoglou’s squad.
Chris Sutton’s Prediction: Goals Galore but No Winner
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has weighed in on the upcoming encounter, predicting a high-scoring affair that will ultimately end in a 2-2 draw. Sutton believes that, given Tottenham’s primary focus on their Europa League aspirations, they may not be at full throttle in the league.
“Spurs’ season is really all about how they do in the Europa League now rather than their league position,” Sutton stated in his preview for BBC Sport. “They do have some of their big-hitters like Dominic Solanke, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero coming back from injury, but the question is how match-sharp will they be, and also how much Thursday’s tie with AZ Alkmaar will take out of them.”
Sutton also noted that Bournemouth’s attacking intent could cause Tottenham problems once again. “The Cherries play forward quickly, and I am expecting them to cause Spurs more problems this time. There will definitely be goals in this, but I reckon Tottenham will score a couple too.”
Squad News: Spurs Bolstered by Key Returns, but Solanke a Doubt
One key advantage for Tottenham heading into the fixture is their improving squad depth. In recent weeks, Postecoglou has welcomed several key players back from injury, giving him greater flexibility to rotate his team amid a congested schedule.
Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Dominic Solanke all made their returns against AZ Alkmaar, boosting the squad’s strength. However, Solanke, who has been crucial to Spurs’ attacking play, is now a doubt for Sunday’s game after sustaining a knock to his back in midweek. His potential absence could leave a void in Tottenham’s attack, with Postecoglou likely to assess his fitness closely before making a final decision.
Postecoglou’s Dilemma: Rotation or Momentum?
With the return leg against AZ Alkmaar looming large, Postecoglou must decide whether to rest some of his key players or maintain momentum by fielding a strong side against Bournemouth. The Australian manager now has the luxury of squad depth, allowing him to make calculated decisions regarding player workload.
Club legend Glenn Hoddle also weighed in on Tottenham’s situation following the AZ defeat, suggesting that Spurs will be content with the first-leg result and will be fully focused on overturning the tie next week. Given this perspective, there is a possibility that Postecoglou could rotate his squad against Bournemouth to ensure his key players remain fresh for the pivotal European encounter.
As Tottenham prepare for this crucial stretch of their season, balancing Premier League commitments with their Europa League aspirations will be key. While the Bournemouth match presents an opportunity to bounce back from recent setbacks, the ultimate priority remains European progression—a challenge that could define Spurs’ season.
BBC Pundit Chris Sutton makes stunning Tottenham vs Bournemouth prediction as Europa hopes hang in the balance
