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Spurs' record in Europe:- U.E.F.A Champions League P W D L F - A 53 22 12 19 90 - 75 (Finalists 2019) European Super Cup Finalists 2025 European Cup P W D L F - A 8 4 1 3 21 - 13 (Semi-Finalists 1962) European Cup Winners Cup P W D L F - A 33 20 5 8 65 - 34 (Winners 1963) UEFA Cup/Europa League P W D L F - A 168 98 40 30 343-147 (Winners 1972, 1984, 2025 Finalists 1974) Europa Conference League P W D L F - A 7 3 1 3 14 - 9 + Forfeited one game due to Covid - 09/12/21) Total P W D L F - A 269 147 59 63 531-278
A meeting of Europa League winners
This first match in the Champions League 8-game league phase (tomorrow night 8pm - AMAZON PRIME) sees the current holders of the Europa League meet the 2020-21 winners (of the Europa League) for the first time in competition. The two teams have something in common, having both beaten Manchester United in their finals. In the case of Villarreal, then managed by Unai Emery, the victory came after a 11-10 penalty shoot-out. It was Villarreal's first major European trophy, but Emery's fourth Europa League success, having won it three times with Sevilla.
Villarreal, like Spurs, lost their European Super Cup Final on penalties. Villarreal's conquerors were Chelsea. At that time, two former Spurs players played for "The Yellow Submarine" - Juan Foyth and Etienne Capoue. Foyth is now 27 and is in his seventh season with the club, having been initially loaned by Tottenham. Capoue retired at the end of the 23/24 season.
Villarreal are coached by Marcelino Garcia, aged 60 - a veteran of management in Spain - who is in his second spell at the club. The club finished fifth in last season's Primera Division to gain entry to the Champions League. They won two of their first three games, then lost 2-0 away to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Villarreal's current squad includes two former Arsenal players - Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe. Having finished his contract with Arsenal this summer, Partey's signature on a one-year contract was viewed as controversial due to his ongoing court case here in England after being charged with five counts of rape and one sexual assault. He was next due to appear at The Old Bailey today (Monday 15th September). Partey started Saturday's game, but was substituted after 64 minutes. That was his first club start of the season.
Pepe was a £72 million signing for Arsenal in August 2019, but his form faded after two years and after a loan spell with Nice and one season with Turkish club Trabzonspor, he signed for Villarreal in August 2024. Pepe is a regular starter for the Spanish club.
Juan Foyth has also started all league games this season, and has made three appearances for Argentina since June, bringing his tally to 21 international caps since 2018. Eight of his last nine international appearances have been made off the bench. Foyth signed for Spurs during Mauricio Pochettino's tenure and made nine 90-minute appearances in the 2017/18 season, none of which were in the league. Juan scored one Spurs goal in an away win against Crystal Palace in November 2018.
Villarreal ended last season with six consecutive wins and added two more this season before a draw away to Celta Vigo and to Atletico on Saturday. Saturday's defeat was the first time in 9 games that they failed to score.
One anomaly of this competition is that Spurs loanee Manor Solomon is eligible to play against us, and has been named in Villarreal's squad for the competition. Solomon was unused on the bench on Saturday and has yet to make his Villarreal debut.
Another familiar member of the Villarreal squad is Ayoze Perez, formerly of Newcastle and Leicester. Perez scored 19 goals in 30 League appearances last season, but made his first appearance of the season off the bench on Saturday.
Canadian midfielder Tajon Buchanan is top scorer so far this season with three goals that were scored in one game against Girona in August.
One of Villarreal's big signings was 24-year-old forward Georges Mikautadze who shone for Georgia at Euro 2024. Mikautadze was signed from Lyon for £26.8 million and scored 18 club goals last season. He made his club debut on Saturday, but did not score. A departing player was 22-year-old Yeremy Pino, who made his Crystal Palace debut on Saturday.
It's too early for team news, but Richarlison will surely start. The team might otherwise be very similar to that which started at The London Stadium, although Thomas Frank might have a dilemma regarding the choice of two out of Bergvall, Palhinha and Bentancur playing. We will have to wait and see. Of course I hope for a winning opening match of our campaign and predict a 2-0 home win.
Referee Rade Obrenovic and his on-field officials are from Slovenia. Mr. Obrenovic has previously refereed us, in March, when we lost 1-0 away to AZ Alkmaar. We won the home leg of that tie 3-1 on our way to Europa League success. It appears that this official is not shy with his cards having issued 11 reds over the last calendar year. 7 of those cards were second yellows.
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