Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal: Champions League Opener Preview

Tottenham Hotspur is set to kick off their Champions League campaign with a
home fixture against Villarreal, marking the first-ever competitive
meeting between these two clubs. While Spurs aim to leave behind the
memories of their previous disappointing European run under Antonio Conte,
new manager Thomas Frank is poised to lead a revitalized squad into Europe’s
elite competition.

Villarreal, returning to the Champions League after a brief absence,
finished fifth in La Liga last season and has started the 2025-26 campaign
positively, despite a recent defeat to Atlético Madrid. Tottenham, on the
other hand, enters the match on the back of a convincing 3-0 victory over
West Ham United, showcasing their resilience after a surprising home loss
to Bournemouth.

Match Details

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Date: Tuesday, September 16
• Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
• Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
• VAR: Alen Borošak (SVN)

Head-to-Head Record

This will be the inaugural competitive encounter between Tottenham Hotspur
and Villarreal, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the Champions League
opener.

Current Form (All Competitions)

Tottenham

• West Ham 0–3 Tottenham – 13/09/25
• Tottenham 0–1 Bournemouth – 30/08/25
• Man City 0–2 Tottenham – 23/08/25
• Tottenham 3–0 Burnley – 16/08/25
• PSG 2–2 (4–3p) Tottenham – 13/08/25

Villarreal

• Atlético Madrid 2–0 Villarreal – 13/09/25
• Celta Vigo 1–1 Villarreal – 31/08/25
• Villarreal 5–0 Girona – 24/08/25
• Villarreal 2–0 Real Oviedo – 15/08/25

How to Watch Tottenham vs. Villarreal

Country	Channel
United States	Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, ViX
United Kingdom	Amazon Prime Video
Canada	DAZN Canada, Amazon Prime Video
Mexico	Max Mexico, Amazon Prime Video

Tottenham Team News and Predicted Lineup

Xavi Simons, who impressed with an assist on his debut in the 3-0 win
against West Ham, is expected to feature prominently. Manager Thomas Frank
might shuffle his squad, potentially moving Simons infield and giving
Destiny Udogie a start at left-back for better balance. Young talent
Wilson Odobert could also make his Champions League debut from the
outset.

With Mathys Tel unavailable and Dominic Solanke injured, Richarlison is
expected to lead the line, supported by Randal Kolo Muani who Frank has
confirmed will play a role. Key midfielders James Maddison and Dejan
Kulusevski remain long-term absentees.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Villarreal (4-3-3):

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bergvall, Simons;
Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert

Villarreal Team News and Predicted Lineup

Villarreal will be without striker Gerard Moreno due to injury, meaning
former Arsenal record signing Nicolas Pépé, named La Liga’s August Player
of the Month, will likely continue to lead the attack in Marcelino’s
4-4-2 formation. Logan Costa and Pau Cabanes are sidelined with long-term
knee injuries, while ex-Manchester United defender Willy Kambwala is
nursing a hamstring issue.

Former Spurs defender Juan Foyth is set to captain the visiting side,
adding a familiar face to the opposition. Manor Solomon, on loan from
Spurs, is eligible to play against his parent club and could feature.

Villarreal Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham (4-4-2):

Júnior; Mouriño, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Partey, Parejo, Moleiro;
Pépé, Mikautadze

Score Prediction

This promises to be a challenging opening fixture for Tottenham. Villarreal,
under the astute management of Marcelino, possesses the ability to
overwhelm opponents with their fluid ball movement. However, their deep
4-4-2 defensive block was dismantled by Atlético Madrid in their recent
defeat, a vulnerability Spurs could exploit.

Tottenham’s strong form in the Premier League, with three wins from four,
and their proficiency from set-pieces will be crucial. While Frank’s side
still has areas to refine, their superior attacking quality should see them
edge out their Spanish counterparts in a tightly contested affair.

Prediction: Tottenham 2–1 Villarreal

For more in-depth Champions League news, previews, and player ratings,
click here.