The Mirror

What channel is Tottenham vs Doncaster on? Live stream and kick-off information

Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur take on League One's Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup third round, with Rovers facing a monumental task as they make the trip to north London

Tottenham are set to welcome Doncaster Rovers to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they kick off their EFL Cup campaign. Spurs bypassed the first two rounds of the competition due to their participation in European football this season.

Thomas Frank’s Lilywhites have enjoyed a strong start to the 2025/26 season, sealing four wins, a draw and one loss across all competitions so far. The League Cup marks one of their best chances to add to their trophy cabinet after ending a 17-year silverware drought last season, with their Danish manager still looking for his first career trophy.

Spurs most recently came from two goals behind to seal a dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw at Brighton. And the four-time winners of the competition will no doubt be favourites to beat Doncaster this time around.

Their League One opponents are currently level on points with Barnsley and Huddersfield Town in the playoff spots, having won five and lost three already this campaign. Grant McCann’s side have already beaten Middlesbrough and Accrington Stanley in their first two EFL Cup fixtures. Here, we bring you all the details you need to tune into the upcoming EFL Cup third round clash this week.

What time is Tottenham vs Doncaster?

Spurs will begin their League Cup campaign on Wednesday, September 24, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of nearly 63,000 supporters.

Kick off has been scheduled for 7.45pm BST, while coverage gets underway at 7.40pm.

What channel is Tottenham vs Doncaster on?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on the Sky Sports+ channel, where more than 1000 league, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy games will be shown throughout the season.

Fans who are Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to catch the action on the Sky Sports app at no extra cost.

Key moments, including goals and potential red cards, will be posted on the Sky Sports' X account. Highlights will also be shown on the Sky Sports app after full-time, as well as ITV4 at 11.45am the following morning.

What's the Tottenham vs Doncaster team news?

There are not expected to be any major changes in Frank’s Spurs set-up as James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (knock) and Dominic Solanke (ankle) remain sidelined with injury. Yet, Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies should be back from their respective dead leg and knee twist.

Frank still has plenty of options to shuffle the pack and give his key players a break for Wednesday’s game, where Antonin Kinsky, Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Dane Scarlett could start.

On the injury front for Rovers, midfielder Harry Clifton recently suffered a hamstring tear in the loss to Wigan, and McCann expects the 27-year-old to miss around six weeks of action. Damola Ajayi, the 19-year-old Spurs winger who is currently on loan at Doncaster, will be ineligible to face his parent club on Wednesday night.

Tottenham have confirmed that Andrew Ashcroft, the son of billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, has acquired a 3.4 per cent stake in the Premier League club

In the latest shake-up at Tottenham, Andrew Ashcroft, son of former Conservative Party deputy chairman and billionaire donor Lord Ashcroft, has snapped up a 3.4 per cent stake in the north London club.

The London Stock Exchange revealed in a public filing on Monday that Andrew purchased 8,023,942 Tottenham shares last Friday. The exact price hasn't been disclosed yet, but based on recent valuations, it's estimated to be around a whopping £100million.

Lord Ashcroft, who was bestowed with his title in 2000, is no stranger to Tottenham, having previously owned about 4 per cent of the club. It remains unclear whether he's passed on his existing shares to his son, or if the family have nearly doubled their stake by buying from minority shareholders, who collectively own 13.42 per cent of Spurs.

Despite the departure of Daniel Levy earlier this month, Tottenham's majority shareholder ENIC has maintained the club isn't on the market. On September 4, Spurs confirmed that Levy had stepped down from his role as Executive Chairman after a quarter-century stint.

Reflecting on his tenure, Levy stated: "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level.

"More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

"I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."

Levy has since been succeeded by Peter Charrington, a long-standing adviser to the Lewis family who control ENIC, taking over as non-executive chairman.

Earlier in the summer, Vinai Venkatesham was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while Thomas Frank joined as the club's new men's head coach and Martin Ho was brought in as women's head coach in a series of major overhauls throughout Tottenham ahead of the new campaign.

Following Levy's departure, Tottenham subsequently revealed they had turned down two initial expressions of interest in purchasing the club from Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners and an American/Chinese consortium headed by Roger Kennedy and Firehawk Holdings Limited.

Under takeover panel regulations, Spurs must stay within the official offer period until October 5, when PCP can submit a final formal bid for the club.

The Football Association of Wales has reportedly been in contact with Tottenham winger Mikey Moore over the possibility of switching his international allegiance from England

Wales are reportedly making a play for Tottenham's highly-rated winger Mikey Moore, in an attempt to persuade him to switch his international allegiance from England.

The BBC reports that the Football Association of Wales has already reached out to the 18-year-old, who is currently on loan at Rangers from Premier League side Spurs.

It's suggested that head coach Craig Bellamy is particularly interested in the prospect of bringing Moore into the fold, and it's believed he has also had a chat with the London-born player, who qualifies for Wales through a grandparent.

Moore holds the record as the youngest player to have ever played for Spurs in the Premier League, having made his debut at just 16 years and 277 days old, coming off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in May 2024.

He also smashed Jimmy Greaves' record by becoming the youngest English scorer in a major European competition, scoring against Elfsborg during the club's successful Europa League campaign last season, reports Wales Online.

Moore has represented England up to under-19 level, scoring three goals in 11 games for the young Three Lions. If he decides to make the switch, he will be following in the footsteps of players like Jordan James and David Brooks, both of whom chose to represent Wales after spending time in the English system.

The winger has featured six times across all competitions for Rangers this campaign, though his spell at Ibrox has been marked by a challenging beginning, with the club still searching for their first Scottish Premiership victory this term.

The youngster's position in the starting XI has come under fire from supporters as a result, but he continues to be regarded as a promising talent.

Manager Russell Martin, who is facing mounting pressure after his team's disappointing start to the season, has previously endorsed Moore as a player destined for greatness.

"We are thrilled to bring Mikey on loan for this season," he said after the club completed the move.

"His profile as a brave, aggressive attacking player is one that we were keen to add to the squad, and he is certainly a player who, despite his age, can make an impact on the team from day one.

"He is a player with huge potential, and it is testament to his quality that he has been entrusted by Spurs in both the Premier League and UEFA Europa League with such regularity over the last 18 months."

An equally enthusiastic Spurs manager Thomas Frank commented: "Mikey is a big talent. I'm really excited about his future here at Tottenham. I think for all players but especially younger players they need consistent first-team football into their bodies.

"I think if we can find the right option we will do that."

Wales are gearing up for a significant international break next month, with an away friendly against England scheduled for October 9, followed by a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium just four days later.

Bellamy is set to announce his squad for these two matches next Tuesday.

Tottenham defender claims he 'broke bone' before netting first goal of season

Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic scored his first goal of the season on loan at Hamburger SV on Saturday but the Croatian teenager claims he suffered a suspected broken finger just before finding the net

Spurs defender Luka Vuskovic fears he broke his finger before bagging his maiden goal of the campaign whilst on loan at Hamburger SV.

The promising Croatian centre-half officially became a Tottenham player in July after a £12million deal was agreed with Hajduk Split for his services back in September 2023.

The 18-year-old featured throughout pre-season under Thomas Frank, scoring and providing an assist in a 2-0 friendly triumph over League One outfit Reading, before moving to HSV in late August.

He has now opened his account in the Bundesliga after hitting the back of the net in Saturday's 2-1 home triumph against Heidenheim.

Nevertheless, Vuskovic has now disclosed he believes he may have fractured his finger when striking his right hand against the post in anger after squandering an opportunity in the 27th minute.

The youngster told German publication Hamburger Morgenpost following the match: "I probably broke a finger. It's an old injury; I broke my finger a few months ago. But I was so angry about missing such a great opportunity that I hit the post with my hand. It will heal, don't worry."

Vuskovic also reflected after netting his maiden strike, stating: "I'm very proud, very emotional, and hope it wasn't my last goal. I just hoped the goal wouldn't be taken back."

The issue was clearly nothing serious as his goal came just 18 minutes after he hammered the woodwork in frustration.

His elder sibling, Mario, also plays for Hamburg but is currently sidelined due to a doping suspension that runs until November 2026.

Nevertheless, the Spurs starlet has been warmly embraced by the HSV supporters, especially after he rejected numerous other European loan opportunities to join the German outfit.

He added when quizzed about his bond with his sibling: "This means a lot to me. Ever since I started playing football, he's wished me good luck before every game. I'm really proud to have a brother like that."

Tottenham made it plain they refused to include a purchase clause in the loan deal with Hamburg as they believe the young talent has a bright future in north London.

Spurs boss Frank is understood to have considered retaining Vuskovic in his squad this term but ultimately, the club determined he needed to play regular football and that wasn't on offer in N17.

Last season, Vuskovic was loaned to KVC Westerlo in Belgium, where he found the net seven times in 36 Jupiler Pro League outings.

Tottenham and Brighton will meet on Saturday with Thomas Frank looking to continue Spurs' solid start to the new season. The north Londoners have enjoyed an impressive opening to the campaign, winning three of their first four matches in the top-flight.

However, six points from Burnley and Manchester City were followed by a shock home defeat to Bournemouth. Despite the setback, Spurs did manage to return to winning ways after the international break.

They saw off West Ham 3-0 and beat Villarreal 1-0 in their return to the Champions League in midweek, with Frank’s side playing in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 2022-23 season.

Meanwhile, Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth last time out, having stunned Man City a week earlier. The Seagulls did thrash Championship outfit Oxford United 6-0 in the League Cup but that followed a 2-0 defeat at Everton and a last-minute draw against Fulham on the opening day.

Last season, Spurs fell to the Seagulls twice. Hurzeler's side also routed them 4-1 in the final game of last season with Spurs then under the management of Ange Postecoglou.

When does Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, September 20. It will take place at the Amex Stadium.

Is Brighton vs Tottenham on TV?

No, the game will not be televised due to the traditional 3pm blackout rules in the UK. However, fans can watch highlights on Match of the Day, which will start at 10:50pm on Saturday evening.

You can view highlights of the game on the BBC Sport website from 8pm. Sky Sports will also release highlights of the game on their app and website following the final whistle.

Team News

Franks' biggest concern is Dominic Solanke. The striker missed out on the win against Villarreal in midweek with an ankle injury and Randal Kolo Muani is now pushing for his first start, battling Richarlison for a place in the first XI.

Spurs have been riddled with a series of long-term injuries already this season. James Maddison, Radu Draugsin, Dejan Kulusevsi are all out. Kota Takai looks to be set to return to training after returning from injury but will most likely miss out.

For Brighton, Adam Webster and Solly March are sidelined with knee injuries. Mats Wieffer could also miss out with his own knee problem.

Left-back Maxim de Cuyper was brought off with an injury concern against Bournemouth. Diego Gomez missed the Oxford clash through sickness while Jack Hinshelwood could also be set for a lengthy spell out due to an ankle concern.

TOTTENHAM 1-0 VILLARREAL: Spurs got their return to the Champions League off to a winning start after a goalkeeper howler earned them all three points against the La Liga side

As Champions League debuts go, it was a good introduction for Thomas Frank. The Tottenham boss had never managed at this level before but is making himself feel very much at home in his new surroundings.

It does feel like a fresh start and a new era for Spurs with a new manager, impressive new players and a new-look hierarchy sat up in the directors’ box.

Tottenham eased past decent Spanish opposition to get this season’s campaign off to a winning start even if they got some luck along the way with a comical own goal.

Villarreal keeper Luiz Junior’s dreadful fourth minute howler gifted Tottenham the win and, while there was plenty of room for improvement, they got the job done.

In truth, it was all a bit low key. It was quite comfortable for Tottenham. The new Champions League format means two extra games in the league phase which is all very nice but reduces any sense of jeopardy.

The loudest the home fans got all night was when they booed Villarreal substitute Thomas Partey when he came out to warm up and then came on in the second half. The former Arsenal midfielder is due to appear in court in London on Wednesday on rape and sexual assault charges.

The 54,755 crowd was below capacity, not least because season ticket holders had to buy their seats for this game and Villarreal did not even bring 1,000 fans.

Mind you, the little Spanish town only has a population of just over 50,000 and so the football club has punched above its weight for years.

Tottenham’s new-look hierarchy - non-executive chair Peter Charrington, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham plus Viv and Charles from the Lewis family - watched on from the directors’ box.

Even the opening - and decisive - goal was a bit underwhelming. Lucas Bergvall swung over a cross from the right, Villarreal keeper Luiz Junior blocked it but allowed it to squirm into his own net.

It was a shocking mistake. But it went a long way to settling any Tottenham nerves on their return to Europe’s top stage.

Frank is already making such a good impression at Tottenham and it is very noticeable how he regularly changes his midfield three to suit the opposition.

This time it was Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur and the hugely impressive Pape Matar Sarr who has gone from being a bit part player to midfield kingpin this season.

That is a huge tribute to Frank’s coaching and man management which is also working nicely for Mohammed Kudus who was regarded as something of a luxury player at West Ham whereas now he works tirelessly up and down the wing.

Villarreal did at least get a foothold back in the game. Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe had a decent game set up Tajon Buchanan who should have scored but steered wide.

Tottenham’s Holland winger Xavi Simons was lucky not to get a second yellow card for a trip on Pepe and, to rub salt into the wounds, Villarreal coach Marcelino was booked for his protests.

There was even time for a late run out for Spurs new boy Randal Kolo Muani who came on for his debut.

Spurs did have a late scare when Micky van de Ven fouled Georges Mikautadze who fell into the box and the VAR check backed up the referee’s instinct to give a free kick rather than a penalty. Pepe’s free kick flew just wide and Tottenham’s win was safe.

Tottenham Hotspur get their UEFA Champions League campaign underway tonight, with new boss Thomas Frank making his European debut.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season kicks off tonight as Tottenham Hotspur take on Villarreal. Spurs will host the Spanish side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first round of fixtures in the competition’s League Phase.

Tonight will mark Spurs’ first appearance in the Champions League since 2023, with their Europa League triumph last season earning them automatic qualification. It’s also Thomas Frank’s first game in Europe’s elite competition, as the former Brentford boss makes his European debut tonight.

The Dane has enjoyed a successful start to his Spurs career, with his side sitting third in the Premier League table. They took all three points from their derby clash against West Ham on Saturday with a convincing 3-0 win, which followed yet another victory against Man City in August.

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Meanwhile, Villarreal have endured a mixed start to their La Liga campaign, with their most recent fixture ending in a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. However, despite picking up two wins from four, the Spanish side is sixth in their domestic table.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Frank spoke to Sky Sports about making his Champions League debut, saying: “I am hugely looking forward to it, I know it will be special when we have that Champions League anthem playing, that will be the moment. Really looking forward to the first two minutes, the anthem, and then it’s focus on the game.”

Unlike most Champions League fixtures, tonight’s game will not be broadcast on TNT Sports, but there is a way to watch the game completely free.

When is Tottenham vs Villarreal?

Tottenham vs Villarreal is scheduled to kick off at 8pm, with Gabby Logan leading the coverage from 6.30pm alongside Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick. Commentary comes from Jon Champion and Alan Shearer.

How to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal for free

Tottenham vs Villarreal will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video and can be streamed for free by signing up for an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial. Prime Video is broadcasting one Champions League match every game week free for Prime members, including Galatasaray vs Liverpool on September 30.

Tonight’s fixture also sees the debut of Prime Vision, an all-new alternate broadcasting feed packed with real-time stats, graphics, and AI-powered insights, including a tactical map and advanced analytics.

How to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal for FREE: TV channel, live stream and kick-off info

The Champions League is back with a bang this week, as Tottenham Hotspur kick-off their next European campaign with a visit from LaLiga side Villarreal on Tuesday evening

The return of the Champions League is finally upon us, and Tottenham Hotspur will kick off their next European campaign under new boss Thomas Frank with a visit from Villarreal. The current Europa League champions are back in action on Tuesday, competing in the elite European competition for the first time since 2023.

Spurs will host the La Liga side at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first of six games across 18 days, in a congested list of fixtures for the Premier League team. Manager Frank will be hoping for a positive start in Europe, after making it three wins out of four in the league so far, placing them second in the table early on.

The new format of the Champions League means that it is very similar to the Premier League, with points accumulated across a league phase of 36 teams. The first eight teams will automatically qualify for the knockout stages, with the next 16 sides heading into a play-off round.

Spurs are heading into Europe with some confidence after swiping West Ham United aside in the recent London derby, with three second-half goals securing an away win for the Lilywhites. Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Micky van de Ven all found the net for Frank's side, continuing their impressive start to the 2025/26 season.

Meanwhile, Villarreal are looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid at the weekend, which saw them slip to sixth in the La Liga table. Marcelino's side has won two, drawn won and lost one game so far in the league.

The club will be aiming for more success in their first Champions League game since 2022, when they made it all the way to the semi-finals of the competition. Ahead of the game, here is everything you need to know about following the first of many European games on Tuesday evening.

When does Tottenham vs Villarreal kick off?

The game takes place on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, and will kick off at 8pm. The match will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham vs Villarreal TV channel

Tottenham vs Villarreal will be shown live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage starting from 7pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off.

You can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, which would ensure you were able to watch Spurs' Champions League game without paying a penny. Follow the link here to find out more and sign up before kick-off.

BBC Radio 5 Live will provide live commentary for UK listeners.

How can I watch the Tottenham vs Villarreal highlights?

Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Sport by 17 September 2025.

Tottenham team news

Dominic Solanke remains out for Spurs, alongside James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma. Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani could make his debut for the Lilywhites on Tuesday night, after remaining as an unused substitute against West Ham on Saturday.

Kota Takai and Mathys Tel are both ineligible to take part in the Champions League fixture, with Richarlison and Xavi Simons available to front the forward line for Spurs.

Tottenham's shackles are off and they can dream big again - now they must seize chance

Tottenham return to the Champions League on Tuesday after landing their first trophy in 17 years in May and under a bright new era led by Thomas Frank and without Daniel Levy

This should represent the start of a brave new world for Tottenham.

A new hierarchy, new manager and a Champions League campaign in what is regarded as one of the best stadiums in Europe. The fans have every right to be optimistic because there is also a buzz around the club at the moment which makes it feel like a fresh start.

Just last season, there were protests outside the ground against former chairman Daniel Levy because supporters were fed-up at the way the club was being run. Ultimately, Tottenham finished the season at the end of Ange Postecoglou’s reign by winning the Europa League and, despite their wretched Premier League form, it gave them a passport back onto European football’s biggest stage.

Tottenham have been bold as a club since then by bringing in Thomas Frank as manager and it was the will of the fans who really drove an even bigger change.

Levy was replaced amid a message that Tottenham want more success. We got our first glimpse of the club’s new power brokers in the directors’ box at West Ham last Saturday.

There was Viv Lewis, daughter of former owner Joe Lewis, and her son-in-law Nick Beucher were sat with technical director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. You can be sure the new hierarchy will relish their first big European night since taking over.

Tottenham have been regulars in the Champions League in the past and even reached the final in 2019. But a failure to build on the team which Mauricio Pochettino built was perhaps the biggest example of the lack of ambition and failings of Levy’s reign.

The biggest success, of course, is that £1billion stadium. It deserves to host the biggest European nights. Villarreal will provide a little taste and they have got big Champions League dates with Borussia Dortmund and trips to the likes of Paris Saint Germain and Monaco.

Tottenham should reach the knock-out stages and you could sense the excitement as Frank was asked about his first Champions League campaign since taking charge at Spurs.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and experience,” said Frank. “We’re playing in the Champions League in one of the best - maybe the best - stadiums in the world.”

Tottenham have made such a promising start - three wins and a defeat from four Premier League games - under Frank and the squad looks stronger, it has been strengthened in key areas and it looks exciting.

No wonder a lot of Spurs fans will feel the shackles are off and they can dream big again.

The hierarchy want silverware. They have an ambitious manager. They have a chief executive who makes it his business to be in tune with the fans. This is a big moment for Tottenham - and they have to seize the opportunity.

After years of frustration and false dawns, Tottenham fans are desperate for a new beginning. The return to the Champions League and a win over Villarreal might just signal the start of something very special.

Tottenham make their return to the Champions League this week with a fresh optimism around the club following the exit of Daniel Levy as chairman and a strong start to the season

This should represent the start of a brave new world for Tottenham. A new hierarchy, new manager and a Champions League campaign in what is regarded as one of the best stadiums in Europe.

The fans have every right to be optimistic because there is also a buzz around the club at the moment which makes it feel like a fresh start. Just last season, there were protests outside the ground against former chairman Daniel Levy because supporters were fed-up at the way the club was being run.

Ultimately, Tottenham finished the season at the end of Ange Postecoglou’s reign by winning the Europa League and, despite their wretched Premier League form, it gave them a passport back onto European football’s biggest stage. Tottenham have been bold as a club since then by bringing in Thomas Frank as manager and it was the will of the fans who really drove an even bigger change.

Levy was replaced amid a message that Tottenham want more success. We got our first glimpse of the club’s new power brokers in the directors’ box at West Ham last Saturday.

There was Viv Lewis, daughter of former owner Joe Lewis, and her son-in-law Nick Beucher were sat with technical director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. You can be sure the new hierarchy will relish their first big European night since taking over.

Tottenham have been regulars in the Champions League in the past and even reached the final in 2019. But a failure to build on the team which Mauricio Pochettino built was perhaps the biggest example of the lack of ambition and failings of Levy’s reign.

The biggest success, of course, is that £1billion stadium. It deserves to host the biggest European nights. Villarreal will provide a little taste and they have got big Champions League dates with Borussia Dortmund and trips to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

Tottenham should reach the knock-out stages and you could sense the excitement as Frank was asked about his first Champions League campaign since taking charge at Spurs. “It’s a fantastic opportunity and experience,” said Frank. “We’re playing in the Champions League in one of the best - maybe the best - stadiums in the world.”

Tottenham have made such a promising start - three wins and a defeat from four Premier League games - under Frank and the squad looks stronger, it has been strengthened in key areas and it looks exciting.

No wonder a lot of Spurs fans will feel the shackles are off and they can dream big again. The hierarchy want silverware. They have an ambitious manager. They have a chief executive who makes it his business to be in tune with the fans. This is a big moment for Tottenham - and they have to seize the opportunity.

After years of frustration and false dawns, Tottenham fans are desperate for a new beginning. The return to the Champions League and a win over Villarreal might just signal the start of something very special.