Tottenham Secure Scrappy 1-0 Win Over Villarreal in Champions League Return

Tottenham Hotspur marked their return to the UEFA Champions League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Villarreal on Tuesday night, thanks to an early own goal by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.

In a tense and often scrappy encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Thomas Frank’s side showed resilience to secure three crucial points in their opening match of the 2025-26 campaign.

Starting our Champions League campaign with a win! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/kVEUXjXXnL

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2025

Early Blunder Sets the Tone

The game sparked to life in the fourth minute when Villarreal’s Luiz Júnior gifted Spurs the lead. Under pressure from Mohammed Kudus’ relentless pressing, the Brazilian goalkeeper’s attempted clearance on a back pass went horribly wrong, slicing the ball into his own net from 20 yards out. The 61,472 fans erupted, and the early strike gave Tottenham a platform to build on, though clear chances remained scarce.

Spurs, managed by Thomas Frank in his first Champions League outing as a head coach, lined up in a 4-3-3 with Guglielmo Vicario in goal, a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Djed Spence, and a midfield trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, and Pape Matar Sarr. The attacking line of Kudus, Richarlison, and Xavi Simons aimed to exploit Villarreal’s defense, but the hosts struggled for fluency after the opener.

Villarreal Fight Back but Lack Precision

Villarreal, led by Marcelino and featuring former Spurs defender Juan Foyth, responded with urgency. Nicolas Pépé, a constant threat, saw a deflected effort go wide in the 12th minute, while Tajon Buchanan squandered a golden opportunity in the 24th, blazing over from close range after Pépé’s clever work. Despite their possession, the Yellow Submarine’s finishing let them down, with an xG of just 0.6 by halftime.

Tottenham had their moments too. A deflected shot from Rodrigo Bentancur, set up by Kudus, forced a smart save from Luiz Júnior, who partially redeemed his earlier error. Richarlison’s physical presence earned a yellow card for Villarreal’s Lassina Traoré, but Spurs’ attack lacked the cutting edge of their Harry Kane-Son Heung-min era.

Second Half: Tension and Controversy

The second half saw Villarreal push harder, with Georges Mikautadze testing Vicario with a curling strike on 55 minutes. Spurs’ defense, marshaled by an outstanding van de Ven, held firm, though not without controversy. Xavi Simons escaped a potential second yellow for a clumsy challenge on substitute Ilias Akhomach, while van de Ven’s late foul on Mikautadze—denying a clear run on goal—drew only a yellow card, much to Marcelino’s fury. The Villarreal boss was booked for his protests, later calling referee Rade Obrenovič “a bit of a homer.”

Substitutions added intrigue. Thomas Partey, facing serious charges in London, entered to boos in the 82nd minute for Villarreal, while Spurs brought on Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani to see out the game. A late Pépé free-kick sailed over, and Tottenham clung on for their second opening-day Champions League win in seven attempts.

Post-Match Reaction

Thomas Frank praised his side’s grit: “It’s not always pretty in this competition, but three points and a clean sheet is massive. We’re off the mark.” Marcelino, however, was less impressed: “We deserved at least a draw. The refereeing decisions were poor, and that own goal was a cruel blow.”

Key Stats and Lineups

• Score: Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal
• Goal: Luiz Júnior (og 4’)
• Possession: Tottenham 56%, Villarreal 44%
• Shots: Tottenham 9 (3 on target), Villarreal 11 (4 on target)
• Yellow Cards: Tottenham (Simons, Richarlison, Kolo Muani, Van de Ven), Villarreal (Comesaña, Mouriño, Veiga)
• Player of the Match: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)

Some player. Your @championsleague POTM 👏 pic.twitter.com/bYqvt9fFO2

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2025

Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bergvall (Bentancur 60’), Simons; Kudus (Werner 85’), Richarlison (Kolo Muani 78’), Odobert.
Unused Subs: Forster, Davies, Bissouma, Gray.

Villarreal (4-4-2): Luiz Júnior; Foyth, Comesaña, Veiga, Pedraza; Buchanan (Akhomach 70’), Parejo, Mouriño, Traoré; Pépé (Partey 82’), Mikautadze (Sorloth 88’).
Unused Subs: Jorgensen, Cuenca, Baena, Moreno.

Referee: Rade Obrenovič (Slovenia)
Attendance: 61,472

What’s Next?

Tottenham’s win places them fifth in the early Champions League standings, while Villarreal languish in 34th. Spurs face a Premier League test next, while Villarreal aim to regroup in La Liga. This result, though not glamorous, sets a solid foundation for Frank’s European ambitions.