Key stats
- Luiz Júnior's own goal is the quickest goal that Tottenham have scored in the UEFA Champions League (3:08)
- Villarreal failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the UEFA Champions League since facing Liverpool on 27th April 2022
- Tottenham have lost just one of their last 13 games when leading at half-time in the UEFA Champions League (W10 D2), losing 2-1 at home to Juventus in March 2018
Highlights
Analysis
Young Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall was impressive yet again, putting in a mature display in the centre of the pitch for Tottenham.
Despite almost giving away a late penalty, Dutchman Micky Van de Ven was imperious in defence for Spurs.
Match report
Playing in the UCL as winners of Europe’s second-tier competition, Tottenham got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring inside four minutes after Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior inadvertently turned Lucas Bergvall’s cross into the back of his own net.
The Spanish side looked to immediately respond as former Arsenal man Nicolas Pépé drove at the Spurs defence before cutting inside and curling his effort just past the post.
Pépé was proving to be the danger man for the Yellow Submarine as he pounced on a poor clearance from the hosts before picking out Tajon Buchanan, but the Canadian international let the Spurs defence off the hook by skewing his shot wide.
As the HT drew closer, the home side thought they were going to have the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot after Richarlison was brought down in the box, but following a VAR review, no spot-kick was given, keeping the scoreline at 1-0 going into the interval.
Villarreal looked the most dangerous side following the restart, and created the better early chances as Juan Foyth headed wide, before Pépé flashed a shot inches wide of the post after a high press saw a Spurs give the ball away in a dangerous area.
Thomas Frank’s men managed to ride the storm and create their own momentum going forward, but several half-chances came to nothing.
Neither side was able to capitalise on their opportunities in the frenetic closing stages, with Pépé summing up his evening by flashing another effort wide of the post late on from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
In the end it was the solitary goal that proved to be enough for Spurs to begin their UCL campaign with a victory and a clean sheet.
Defeat leaves Villarreal without a win in three matches across all competitions, and a tricky game against Juventus awaits them on matchday two.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur)
Post-match comments
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to Amazon Prime: "I am very happy with that. There were many good things, and we defended exceptionally well against a very good Villarreal side. Offensively, we did not reach the highest level and gave the ball away, but it was a very even game that we just edged. João Palhinha is a very good player and stabilised the game.
"What I learned is that my team are working very hard. Our defensive organisation is good and we gave very little away. Offensively, that is definitely the area where we need to improve, find relationships, and raise the level.
"Maybe on the day we did not reach that high standard, but it happens.
"Let us be happy today because it is so difficult to win these games. We can analyse tomorrow."
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven to Amazon Prime: "I think it was a tough one, not an easy one. We didn't play well today but it was an important one.
"We had a really good start and of course you want to build on that but Villarreal are a really difficult team to play against.
"Also, every time on the counter-attack they keep the strikers forward, they're really dangerous. Of course, you want to build on the 1-0 at the start of the game, but at the end, we got the three points, and that's the most important.
"I think we are a difficult team to play against, for sure. Structure-wise, we are standing really well, and we all know what to do, so we're a difficult team to beat."