Tottenham Hotspur are set to kick off their Europa League campaign on Thursday night, hosting Azerbaijani champions Qarabag at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The match, scheduled for 20:00 GMT, marks Spurs’ return to the competition for the first time since their 2020/21 elimination by Dinamo Zagreb.
Ange Postecoglou’s side enters the fixture in good form following an impressive 3-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League last weekend. The Australian manager is expected to rotate his squad, balancing European ambitions with domestic priorities.
Tottenham will be without Cristian Romero, who is suspended following his red card in last season’s Champions League match against AC Milan. Radu Dragusin is likely to deputize in defense. Injuries to Wilson Odobert and Richarlison further limit Postecoglou’s options, though Yves Bissouma is available after returning from injury.
Qarabag, meanwhile, arrive in London having won their last three matches. However, they face the challenge of rebounding from a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League play-offs. The Azerbaijani side will be without suspended center-back Kevin Medina and injured goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev.
Historical context favors Tottenham, who have won both previous encounters with Qarabag in European competition. Their last meeting in November 2015 saw Spurs secure a 1-0 away victory in the Europa League.
While victory on Matchday 1 isn’t crucial due to the extended league phase format, Tottenham will view this as an opportunity to start their European campaign strongly. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the United Kingdom and on Paramount+ in the United States.
As Tottenham balances domestic and European ambitions, this fixture presents a chance for Postecoglou to assess his squad depth and for fringe players to stake their claim for regular first-team action. With a challenging Premier League trip to Manchester United on the horizon, Spurs’ approach to this Europa League opener will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
