Half-time reading:

Half time: Tottenham 0-0 AZ

45 minutes: Added two minutes.

I just remembered that my only trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium resulted in Timo Werner scoring the winning goal for RB Leipzig.

44 mins: Tottenham are currently looking a bit flat on the pitch and in the stands. Will the fans lift up the players or vice versa?

42 mins: Moore shows some quick feet on the right but his crossing is not up to the required standard.

40 mins: Kasius runs to chase the ball over the roof, but Forster recognizes the danger and comes out of his penalty area to bring the AZ man close to the ball.

38 minutes: Poku beats Gray on the left and sends a low cross into the box, but Dragusin blocks it.

The Spurs win the ball back in the AZ half, allowing Richarlison to pass a pass to Werner in the penalty area, but he loses his balance while shooting and sends his shot wide of the goal.

36 mins: “Timo Werner scored 78 goals in 127 games for Leipzig before moving to Chelsea. What did they do to him at Stamford Bridge?” asks Jim Denvir.

Strip him of all his self-confidence?

34 mins: Poku shoots into the penalty area and hits Dragusin. The AZ man ends up on the ground in the penalty area, but there’s nothing there.

32 mins: Maddison goes down in the penalty area after a foul by Penetra. The Spurs captain wants a penalty but I think the defender gets the ball and the VAR agrees.

Bergvall takes the corner and finds Dragusin at the back from where he heads the ball back across the penalty area but AZ manages to get rid of him.

30 minutes: AZ wins a corner after Udogie deflects a cross backwards. It’s a cracking inside swing from the right that Penetra heads into the top corner, but Forster fends it off with a wonderful save.

28 mins: Werner should do better after a wonderful pass from Bergvall. The German ends up playing one-on-one, but his finishing is more than dismal, he kindly passes the ball straight to the goalkeeper.

26 mins: Richarlison and Maddison combine well, but the latter fails to produce a precise cross and AZ manages to clear.

24 mins: AZ are doing their job well, but at this point it still feels like Spurs will take the points.

22 mins: Poku dribbles the ball 40 meters down the pitch to the edge of the penalty area before passing it to Parrott, who sees his shot blocked.

20 minutes: After delighting against West Ham at the weekend, Maddison is all over the pitch and eager to pass the ball at every opportunity.

18 mins: Kasius sends in a dangerous cross from the right that somehow isn’t countered by anyone in red. A disappointment for Spurs.

On the other end… Werner is released by Maddison; The winger creates half a meter of space before his cross is deflected towards a corner.

16 mins: The initial stats suggest Spurs had 61% possession, but it feels like much more.

14 mins: Tottenham is still at the top here. AZ have a lot of men behind the ball trying to stop the steady flow of attacks.

12 minutes: 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 comes on for Van Bommel.

10 minutes: Van Bommel walks away, looking very frustrated as he walks down the tunnel.

8 minutes: Spurs look lively in the final third. You are at the top and will be confident to overcome the impasse.

There is a break in play while Van Bommel receives treatment. The youngster doesn’t look too happy as he sits on the pitch and a substitution is prepared.

6 minutes: Werner hits the ball from the left towards the back post. Moore makes a smart run, but doesn’t make enough contact and the ball misses.

Maddison chases a ball over the top…he almost gets it but is beaten by the pace of the pass and the goalkeeper concedes.

4 minutes: AZ seem happy to play the ball out from the back. The Spurs will then put them under a lot of pressure.

I’m also very interested in seeing Moore and Bergvall. The two teenagers are highly rated and the more minutes they get at this level, the better.

2 minutes: Clive Allen in co-communication is a bonus. I love a little bit of Clive.

Richarlison gets early contact with the ball in the penalty area. It will be interesting to see how he performs. Spurs need him to challenge Solanke for the starting spot.

Start

Parrott has already made headlines since moving to the Netherlands.

Dragusin makes 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.

Reading before the game.

You can also watch Fenerbahce vs Man United here:

Starting lineups

preamble