Tottenham vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League, and Thomas Frank’s side kick off their campaign with the visit of a strong Villarreal side to north London this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime & discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Tottenham preview: The UEL winners
Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League as a result of winnng last season’s UEFA Europa League. Since then, former Brentford boss Thomas Frank has replaced Ange Postecoglou in the Spurs dugout.
Frank has enjoyed an excellent start to his time as Tottenham boss. They most recently defeated West Ham United by three goals to nil at the London Stadium at the weekend, making it three victories from their opening four Premier League matches.
Villarreal preview: Strong Villarreal
With former Valencia boss Marcelino at the helm, Villarreal have been improving for the last few seasons and the Yellow Submarine have been able to once again start this campaign well after reasonably heavy investment over the summer.
They had collected seven points from their opening three matches in La Liga, but the visitors returned from the September international break with a 2-0 loss to previously winless Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano at the weekend.
Tottenham team news: Nothing fresh
There is no need for Frank to make any changes to his Spurs side this week, but there may be a view he needs to rotate. That would seem daft against a strong side in their opening game in Europe.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Richarlison, Simons
Unavailable: Dragusin (Injured), Takai (Injured), Bissouma (Injured), Maddison (Injured), Kulusevski (Injured), Solanke (Injured)
Questionable:
Villarreal team news: Defensive injuries
Villarreal have some defensive injury issues for this trip to north London, with centre-backs Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala both sidelined for the visitors this midweek.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Partey, Parejo, Moleiro; Pepe, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Pau Cabanes (Injured), Kambwala (Injured), Gerard (Injured)
Questionable:
Tottenham vs Villarreal prediction
Marcelino has often been criticised for being too stuck to his 4-4-2 system, but they have shown a lot more flexibility and versatility in the last couple of seasons. They have an abundance of attacking options and will go to London with a bit of confidence. Spurs have to deal with a higher level of European football, and Frank will have to be as tactically precise as he usually is with the complication of playing more often. Spurs, with home advantage, will get on the front foot, but Villarreal will believe they still have an opportunity to take the game to their opposition with a bit of nous.
Tottenham vs Villarreal Tip: Both teams to score
