Tottenham Hotspur get their Champions League campaign underway against Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday 16th September at 8pm.
Thomas Frank’s club earned their spot in the competition as Europa League winners, with Villarreal back in the Champions League after four years. This game will be broadcast in the UK on Amazon Prime Video.
Most corners: Villarreal (23/10 with Coral)
Villarreal are strong candidates to win the corner count against Tottenham in the Champions League this week. The Spanish side have averaged 7.67 corners per game in La Liga, showing their attacking width and persistence in forcing opportunities from wide areas. Tottenham, meanwhile, have struggled to generate set-piece pressure, averaging just 2.67 corners per game in the Premier League. Villarreal’s superior ability to sustain possession and deliver crosses should naturally translate into more corners.
Nicolas Pepe to score or assist (7/4 with Paddy Power)
Nicolas Pépé looks primed to make an impact against Tottenham in the Champions League this week. The winger has been in sharp form, registering a goal or assist in all three of his league matches so far this season. His pace and direct dribbling make him a constant threat on the flank, while his ability to cut inside and create chances adds another dimension. With confidence high, Pépé has every chance of extending his streak versus Spurs.
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How both teams go into Tottenham vs Villarreal
It looked as though Tottenham would be experiencing their second season without European football in three years. But the north London club went on a strong run in the Europa League, lifting the trophy in May. It sealed a return to the Champions League after two seasons away. Tottenham’s last run in the Champions League saw them knocked out in the last 16, a long fall from their appearance in the final in 2019-20.
It’s been a reasonable start to the Premier League campaign under Thomas Frank. Tottenham have picked up three wins from four matches, with just a disappointing loss to Bournemouth blotting the copy book. Spurs will be buoyed by their summer signings integrating into the squad well and will head into this match with full confidence following their win over West Ham at the weekend.
Villarreal were last in the Champions League in 2021-22, making it all the way to the semi-finals where they were beaten by Liverpool. They’ve had two European seasons since then, one in the Conference League and another in the Europa League. But last season they had to suffer without European football, just missing out on a spot. Now they’re back, Villarreal will be hoping to thrive in the new format.
Things started well for Villarreal in La Liga this season, winning both of their opening games without conceding a goal. They’ve faltered since then though, with a draw against Celta Vigo and a loss against Atletico Madrid. Without a win in two games, confidence could be a little low for the Yellow Submarine and it’ll be a tough game for them in north London.
Tottenham team news
Tottenham will still be missing Dominic Solanke as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury, whilst Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski will be out for a while longer. James Maddison is expected to miss the season. Yves Bissouma and Mathys Tel are not in Tottenham’s Champions League squad.
Villarreal team news
Willy Kambwala, Pau Cabanes and Logan Costa are both long-term absentees and won’t play again this year. Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno are both injury concerns and not expected to feature.
Tottenham vs Villarreal head-to-head
This will be the first competitive meeting between Tottenham and Villarreal.