Key events
Half-time reading:
Half time: Tottenham 0-0 AZ
Spurs have looked good but not had the requisite cutting edge in the final third and are yet to test the AZ goalkeeper.
45 mins: Two minutes added on.
I have just remembered that my one trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium resulted in Timo Werner scoring the winner for RB Leipzig.
44 mins: Tottenham seem a bit flat on the pitch and in the stands at the moment. Will the fans lift the players or vice versa?
42 mins: Moore shows some quick feet on the right but his cross is not up to the required standard.
40 mins: Kasius races to chase a ball over the top but Forster reads the danger and comes out of his box to just beat the AZ man to the ball.
38 mins: Poku gets the better of Gray on the left and pings a low cross into the box but Dragusin blocks it.
Spurs win the ball back in the AZ half, allowing Richarlison to slip a pass to Werner inside the box but he is off-balance when shooting and sends his effort wide.
36 mins: “Timo Werner scored 78 goals in 127 games at Leipzig before his move to Chelsea. What did they do to him at Stamford Bridge?” asks Jim Denvir.
Suck all the confidence out of him?
34 mins: Poku drives into the box, going up against Dragusin. The AZ man ends up on the floor in the box but there is nothing in it.
32 mins: Maddison goes down in the box after a challenge from Penetra. The Spurs captain wants a penalty but I think the defender gets the ball and VAR agrees.
Bergvall takes the corner and finds Dragusin at the back spot from where he heads it back across the box but AZ manage to get rid.
30 mins: AZ win a corner after Udogie deflects a cross behind. It is a cracking inswinger from the right which Penetra heads towards the top corner but Forster produces a wonderful save to keep it out.
28 mins: Werner should do better after a glorious pass from Bergvall. The German ends up one-on-one but his finish is beyond dismal, kindly passing the ball straight to the goalkeeper.
26 mins: Richarlison and Maddison combine well but the latter can’t dig out an accurate cross and AZ manage to clear.
24 mins: AZ are sticking to their task well but it still feels like Spurs will be taking the points at this stage.
22 mins: Poku dribbles the ball 40 yards up the pitch to the edge of the box before laying it off to Parrott who sees his shot blocked.
20 mins: Having been hooked at the weekend against West Ham, Maddison is all over the pitch and eager to get on the ball at every opportunity.
18 mins: Kasius whips in a dangerous cross from the right which somehow is met by no one in red. A let-off for Spurs.
Down the other end … Werner is released by Maddison; the winger earns half a yard of space before his cross is turned behind for a corner.
16 mins: The early stats indicate Spurs have had 61% possession but it feels like a lot more.
14 mins: Tottenham are still very much on top here. AZ have a lot of men behind the ball to try and stop the steady flow of attacks.
12 mins: Maddison tries to find Richarlison but the pass is blocked, the ball comes back to him so he shoots from 18 yards, only to send it straight at the goalkeeper.
Kasius is on for Van Bommel.
10 mins: Van Bommel walks off and looks very frustrated as he heads down the tunnel.
8 mins: Spurs are looking lively in the final third. They are very much on top and will be confident of breaking the deadlock.
There is a break in play while Van Bommel is treated. The youngster does not look too happy as he sits on the turf and a substitution is being prepared.
6 mins: Werner whips the ball towards the back post from the left. Moore makes a clever run but he does not make sufficient contact and the ball flashes wide.
Maddison chases a ball over the top … he almost gets there but he is beaten by the pace on the pass and the goalkeeper collects.
4 mins: AZ look happy to play the ball out from the back. Spurs will be putting them under plenty of pressure when they do.
I am also quite interested in seeing Moore and Bergvall. The two teenager are highly rated and the more minutes they get at this level the better.
2 mins: Clive Allen on co-comms is a bonus. I love a bit of Clive.
Richarlison gets an early touch in the box. It will be interesting to see how he does, Spurs need him challenging Solanke for the starting spot.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Parrott has made headlines already since moving to Netherlands.
Dragusin gets his first start since being sent off in the eighth minute against Qarabag. The Romanian centre-back has something to prove at Spurs, that’s for sure.
Pre-match reading.
You can also follow Fenerbahce v Man United here:
Starting lineups
Fraser Forster gets a rare start in goal and Mikey Moore is given his chance.
Tottenham (4-3-3): Forster; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bentancur, Maddison, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner
Subs: Vicario, Austin, Bissouma, Romero, Solanke, Kulusevski, Johnson, Porro, Odobert, Sarr, Van de Ven, Lankshear
AZ (4-3-3): Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Dekker, Moller Wolfe; Clase, Mijnans, Belic; Poku, Parrott, Van Bommel
Subs: Verhuist, Zoet, Koopmeiners, Addai, Lahdo, Kasius, Kwakman, De Wit, Meerdink, Berkhout
Preamble
Another night under the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lights is not a particularly catchy phrase but I have to work with what I’m given. Anyway, tonight’s visitors – aiming to end Tottenham’s perfect start in the competition – are AZ. They possess some Spurs inside knowledge, having signed Troy Parrott from the club in the summer and he will be eager to show up his former employers.
The other important thing to know about the Dutch club is their manager is named Maarten Martens, which seems lazy from his parents. Other surprising AZ players include Bruno Martins-Indi, Jordy Clasie and Mark’s son Ruben van Bommel.
This seems like a competition that Tottenham could go a long way in, especially as the Champions League rejects will not be spewed into it in February. They have seen off Ferencvaros and Qarabag already but it feels like this will be a decent test of Ange Postecoglou’s European credentials.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
