U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 1
TUESDAY 16th SEPTEMBER, 2025
(8pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) VILLARREAL 0(0)
Spurs scorer:-
Luiz Junior (o.g), 4
Attendance:- 54,755
Referee:- Rade Obrenovic SVN
Assistants:- Jure Praprotnik SVN & Grega Kordez SVN
Fourth official:- David Smajc SVN
VAR:- Alen BoroSak SVN
Assistant VAR:-Bastian Dankert GER
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence (sub 13. Udogie, 69); 15. Bergvall (sub 4. Danso (90+2), 30. Bentancur, 29. Sarr (sub 6. Palhinha, 69); 20. Kudus, 9. Richarlison (sub 39. Kolo-Muani, 77), 7. Xavi Simons (sub 22. Johnson, 77)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 33. Davies, 67. Byfield; 14. Gray, 28. Odobert; 44. Scarlett
Booked:- Simons (foul on Mourino), Richarlison (foul on Foyth), Kolo-Muani (foul on Mourino), Van de Ven (foul on Mikautadze)
Villarreal (4-4-2):- 1. Luiz Junior; 15. Mourino, 8. Foyth (Capt.), 12. Renato Veiga, 23. Cardona (sub 11. Akhomach, 75), ; 19. Pepe, 14. Comesana (sub 16. Partey, 78), 18. Gueye (sub 10. Parejo, 78), 17. Buchanan (sub 20. Moleiro, 82); 22. Perez (sub 2. Pedraza, 75), 9. Mikautadze
Subs not used:- 13. Conde, 25. Tenas; 3. Altimira, 4. Rafa Marin, 26. Navarro; 6. Solomon; 21. Oluwaseyi
Booked:- Comesana (foul on Bergvall), Mourino (foul on Simons), Veiga (foul on Bergvall)
Opening win, but Spurs were under par
Spurs v Villarreal, 16.09.25
Thanks to Greg Smith for this image
This was our first Champions League night since March 2023, and Spurs gained a very useful win through a freakish goal, but their performance was less than acceptable to grace such an occasion.
Whether the performance was hindered by tired legs, a card-happy referee, or the close marking of Villarreal is open to debate. The match was preceded by a light show and a new TIFO, but the crowd was also disappointing with plenty of empty seats in the expensive East upper stand, and the worst attendance of away fans I can recall at our 6-year-old stadium. There were barely 100 yellow-shirted fans.
Spurs v Villarreal, 16.09.25
Thomas Frank made two changes to his team for his first Champions League game. Bentancur replaced Palhinha and Richarlison came in for the ineligible Mathys Tel. "Richie" was well marked by Villarreal's captain - former Spurs Juan Foyth. Ex-Arsenal winger Pepe was booed at every touch and Thomas Partey (due at court today) was vehemently derided whenever spotted warming up, and then when he played the closing 15 minutes of the game.
Spurs kicked off and played towards the north stand. Xavi had an early shot go over the bar after Vicario's free kick and Van de Ven's knockdown. The goal came in the fourth minute when Lucas Bergvall received a good ball down the right and hit a low cross into the six-yard zone where Luiz Junior inexplicably turned the ball into his own net. The goalkeeper was heartily jeered by the home fans thereafter with almost every touch.
The visitors responded and won a corner on the left but that was headed clear by Spence. There were examples of short passing by Spurs all night and even Van de Ven wasn't immune with Pepe nearly taking advantage, but seeing his shot deflected out of play for another corner.
Sarr started a move where Kudus crossed, and Bentancur's shot was deflected for corner. Luiz Junior managed to hold a deflected Djed Spence cross. At the other end, Romero was next to fail with a pass out which led to Buchanan having a chance but firing wide.
Spurs were generally happy to slowly play out from the back, whereas I for one would have liked more urgency and a second goal. Kudus had a shot blocked but then saw the offside flag raised.
Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic has sent off 11 players over the last calendar year and soon started to wave his yellows. Simons was his first victim, and later in the game when he wasn't shown a second yellow, Villarreal coach Marcelino was also shown a yellow card.
Luiz Junior dived and saved well to his right from a Sarr shot, which followed artistry by Kudus. There were two VAR reviews in the first half for possible penalties. The first of these was when Richarlison went down and stayed down for a while. The second was to deny a handball decision after Simons fed Bergvall and his pass was handled by a defender at short range.
There was a blatant handball (but no card) outside the Villarreal area on the left, taken by Pedro Porro, but headed over by Bentancur. Another Pedro Porro cross gave Richarlison a chance, but his deflected shot hit the side netting.
Another poor pass by Romero led to a chance for Pepe, who pulled his shot just wide of Vicario's right post. Bergvall hit a shot over the target in front of the South stand after Simon's inside pass.
Bergvall won a corner on the right, taken by Kudus. Luiz Junior struggled but managed to clear. Palhinha was one of our first substitutions (for Sarr), and he was always looking for the ball. He went to offer help to Kudus, whose cross was headed wide of the far post by Richarlison. This was probably our best chance to increase our lead.
Palhinha had a chance himself after debutant Kolo-Muani headed down another Kudus cross, but the ball flew over the target.
Mickey Van de Ven "took one for the team" when shoving Mikautadze from behind just outside the box. VAR reviewed, but a free kick was the result, taken by Pepe and hit off target.
We have to say this result is a satisfactory start to our 8-match league phase, but better performances will be required, starting with our next game at The Amex Stadium on Saturday.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.