Spurs are back at Europe’s top table after two seasons away
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Tottenham vs Villarreal LIVE
After an absence of two and a half years, Spurs are back in the Champions League. Qualifying by winning last season’s Europa League, and ending their 17-year trophy drought in the process, the north Londoners look in good shape upon their return to Europe top table. Under new manager Thomas Frank, there is a more sturdy defence and a clear ability to adapt to differing challengers.
Villarreal are the visitors, and have three familiar faces in their ranks. Most notably, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is back in the capital just a few months after leaving on a free transfer. He will likely not receive a warm welcome, but Manor Solmon, on loan from Spurs, and Juan Foyth, who left the club four years ago, surely will.
It is a match both teams will believe they can win, and the start of a kind run of League Phase fixtures for Spurs, who travel to Bodo/Glimt and Monaco and then host Copenhagen in the first half of the schedule. Villarreal, also returning to the Champions League after a longer-than-hoped absence, are looking for their first ever win over an English team at the 15th time of asking. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham vs Villarreal latest news
just now
No one tell West Ham.
AFP via Getty Images
Team news is due at around 6.45pm, so in about 20 minutes or so. But it could drop a bit sooner.
Richarlison is expected to return to the starting line-up, with Tel ineligible. Simons should keep his place, but could move into No10.
Frank set for UCL bow
Thomas Frank will take charge of a Champions League game for the first time tonight, and he said it will be “special” to stand on the touchline and hear the anthem.
He reflected on his journey from managing Brentford in the Championship to now preparing his side to play on the biggest stage in club football.
“Of course it is a fantastic opportunity and experience tomorrow,” Frank said.
“In many ways you would say yes, we played with Brentford in the Championship at Griffin Park, a small, compact stadium and tomorrow we are playing in one of the best stadiums in the world – maybe the best.
“In front of our fantastic fans, it is a European night and we know they will be absolutely on it. It will be so special, so yeah really looking forward to the first two minutes, the Champions League anthem and then it’s focus on the game.”
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Romero confident over new Spurs direction on return to Europe's elite
Cristian Romero's most recent Champions League memory is not a particularly happy one, writes Matt Verri.
It came in March 2023, the last time Tottenham featured in the competition. AC Milan were the visitors to north London for the second leg of their last-16 tie.
Those with experience of watching Romero would have had their early warning systems activated as his head went down and he began the sprint towards Theo Hernandez. He arrived on the scene at full speed, launched himself into a challenge on the touchline and duly received a second yellow card.
Spurs were knocked out of the Champions League and Tuesday’s showdown with Villarreal marks a first return to the competition since.
Change is somewhat of a buzzword at Spurs at the moment, but the team is almost unrecognisable from the side who were knocked out by Milan.
Just three of that starting line-up are still at the club. Cristian Romero, now club captain, is the only one in line to feature on Tuesday, with Dejan Kulusevski out injured and Ben Davies yet to play a minute this season.
Add in the fact it will be Thomas Frank on the touchline and not Antonio Conte, and that there will be no Daniel Levy watching on from the stands, and this is a very different club.
Read more here!
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Tottenham vs Villarreal prediction
So far this season, we have seen two sides of Tottenham. We have seen the free-flowing, tactically astute Spurs who picked apart West Ham, downed Manchester City, and came within minutes of beating PSG in the Super Cup.
We have also seen the more turgid Tottenham that whimpered to a 1-0 home loss against Bournemouth.
So, the outcome of this match will likely be decided by which Tottenham turns up.
Given the scale of the occasion, the Spurs squad should have no issue getting themselves up for it.
Tottenham to win, 2-1.
John Walton/PA Wire
Early Villarreal team news
Villarreal will be without defender Willy Kambwala, centre-forward Gerard Moreno, and Pau Cabanes.
Tajon Buchanan is in line to start, though. He has notched three goals in four LaLiga matches this season, one shy of early golden boot contender Kylian Mbappe.
Early Tottenham team news
Tottenham could hand a debut to Deadline Day signing Randal Kolo Muani tonight.
Thomas Frank will be forced into at least one change from the win at West Ham as Mathys Tel has been left out of Spurs’ squad for the league phase of this competition.
Richarlison is therefore expected to come back into the starting lineup, though Frank also has the option of giving Kolo Muani his first minutes in a Spurs shirt.
Dominic Solanke remains out with the ankle injury that saw him miss most of pre-season and then ruled him out of recent matches against Bournemouth and West Ham.
Frank has decisions to make across the pitch. Destiny Udogie will hope to come in for his first start of the season at full-back, while Rodrigo Bentancur could also return after dropping out against West Ham.
Xavi Simons started on the left wing in that match and had some promising moments without really catching the eye. Frank could be tempted to shift him into the No10 role, but that would likely mean at least one of Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr miss out and both have been in impressive form.
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How to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal
TV channel: Tonight’s match will not be broadcast on terrestrial television.
Live stream: Tottenham vs Villarreal will be broadcast live for free on Amazon Prime.
It will be free for all Amazon Prime subscribers to watch. A subscription starts at £8.99 per month, though a 30-day free trial is also available.
Coverage will start at 6.30pm BST ahead of an pm kick-off.
Welcome
Good evening and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Champions League game between Tottenham and Villarreal.
For Spurs, it’s a first game at Europe’s top table since March 2023, while the Yellow Submarine make their return since a semi-final defeat in May 2022.
Two teams with a point to prove, in a game which both will believe they can win.
Kick-off is at 8pm BST. Stick with us.
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