Europa League Showdown: Tottenham Hotspur Stunned by AZ Alkmaar in Thrilling 1-0 Upset

The Europa League last 16 has kicked off with a bang, as top teams clash in thrilling matchups. Tottenham Hotspur's visit to AZ Alkmaar ended in a stunning 1-0 defeat, with Lucas Bergvall's own goal handing the Dutch side a slender advantage. Despite dominating possession with 61% of the ball, Spurs managed only one shot on target, highlighting their struggles in front of goal.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was highly critical of his team's display, calling it a "big wake-up call" ahead of their next game. "This was nowhere near the level we should be in terms of our performance," he said. "We were sloppy and not performing how we should. Everyone is disappointed and we have to look at ourselves." Head coach Ange Postecoglou acknowledged that his team did not have the right mindset for the away game in Europe, saying, "We didn’t really come to grips and have the right mindset to tackle an away fixture in Europe."

Some key takeaways from the match include: * Tottenham's lack of firepower up front, with only one shot on target despite dominating possession * AZ Alkmaar's solid defensive performance, which limited Spurs to few scoring opportunities * The importance of the second leg, with Tottenham needing to overturn the 1-0 deficit to advance to the next round * The potential impact of injuries on Tottenham's squad, with Dominic Solanke forced off with a knock after returning from a seven-week absence

Other notable results from the Europa League last 16 include Roma's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, Lazio's 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen, and Bodø/Glimt's 3-0 thrashing of Olympiakos. With the competition heating up, teams will need to bring their A-game to advance to the next round.