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Villarreal centre-back Rafa Marin has admitted that he was very excited when the Champions League draw came out, and he cannot wait to begin the campaign away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With Spurs securing a win in the London derby against West Ham United on Saturday, attention now shifts to the Champions League, with the Lilywhites back in the competition after a two-year absence.

The new format of the Champions League means Tottenham’s fixture list is extremely challenging over the next few months.

The Spurs squad will undoubtedly be put through the stress test, and Thomas Frank will have to rotate smartly, given that there are no easy games in the Champions League.

Villarreal star is ready to lock horns with Tottenham

Spurs begin their campaign with what they will see as four winnable fixtures, but they have a hard end to the league phase, with Paris Saint-Germain, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt being the final four opponents.

The Lilywhites will thus want to begin with three points at home against Villarreal, but Rafa Marin admits that he and his teammates have no fear coming to N17.

When asked about beginning their Champions League campaign with fixtures against Tottenham and Juventus, Marin told AS (as relayed by Sport Witness): “There are two big games coming up. They’re special matches we’re eagerly awaiting. It’s incredibly motivating for a player to be able to play these types of games.

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“It’s true that playing at home makes you feel stronger and better, but I think we’re a team that won’t back down away from home.

“When the draw was over and I saw the opponents we were facing, my hair stood on end. For anyone who loves football, being able to play in a competition like this and against opponents like these is very important. They’re great teams, but it’s 11 against 11, so we’ll see.”

Tottenham’s record against Spanish sides in Europe is concerning

While the North Londoners will believe they can beat the Yellow Submarine at home on Tuesday, there is one stat that may worry Tottenham fans.

Spurs have won only one of their 13 games against La Liga sides in Europe, which is not a good omen for the club ahead of the clash.

Villarreal have made a strong start to the season, currently sitting in fifth place in the table, and Tottenham will thus have to bring their A-game to make a winning start to the competition.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust have slammed the club for placing a hefty price on one of their Champions League fixtures.

Tottenham Hotspur will get their Champions League campaign underway on Tuesday, with Villarreal travelling to North London. There will be plenty of intrigue surrounding Manor Solomon, who may end up playing against his parent club.

However, one of the biggest talking points about the match has been how much Tottenham supporters will have to fork out in order to attend. The THST has previously criticised Spurs for raising ticket prices. It was later announced that the THST would play a part in the club’s long-term ticketing review.

This season, the THST have criticised Tottenham’s decision not to price all Champions League matches and Category C fixtures. When their protests were ignored by the club, they made an effort to only have the Borussia Dortmund fixture above Category C, but this was again refused.

Tottenham Supporters’ Trust send clear message to the Spurs board

Tottenham have pressed ahead with pricing the upcoming clash with Villarreal as a Category B fixture. As a result, tickets have gone unsold and are being offered on a general sale where anyone can buy them.

The THST posted: “We warned Spurs against pricing our group stage UCL game v Villarreal at Cat B. The fact we are now being urged to invite up to SIX of our friends to this game, suggests we were right.

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“Why not price games affordably and pack the stadium? That’s how you create the atmosphere we all want on European nights.”

Tottenham fixtures do not usually make it to a general sale, except for some domestic cup matches. Tickets are usually sold out after the One Hotspur member sales windows.

Spurs have made an error in judgement on Champions League tickets

Many clubs offer a four match package, which allows their supporters to pay a fixed fee to attend every home European match during the league phase of the competition. This means every game is priced exactly the same.

Tottenham have attempted to boost revenue by charging more for the bigger matches against higher ranked opponents.

However, this move has not paid off. It is not easy for many supporters to attend midweek matches and this should be taken into consideration when the club decide their pricing strategy.

If Spurs still have lots of empty seats on Tuesday night, it will be disappointing, because it is good for the supporters to get behind their team.

However, no fan can be blamed for not being able to afford additional cup matches. Playing Villarreal does not make for a standout tie and it should have been priced the same as the Copenhagen and Slavia Prague fixtures.

The Opta Supercomputer has spoken and revealed how likely Tottenham Hotspur are to make it past the league phase of the Champions League.

UEFA came under fire after making the decision to expand the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, while scrapping the traditional group stage format. However, there were many positives taken from the new structure of the tournament. One was how there were fewer dead rubber matches at the end of the opening round of the competition.

The league phase certainly took some unexpected twists, as some European giants failed to meet their expectations. Real Madrid finished 11th, Bayern Munich came 12th and Manchester City only made it through on goal difference.

This shows that anything is possible, so Tottenham Hotspur must be careful not to show complacency in their fixtures against lower ranked teams.

On a positive note, PSG finished 15th in the league phase last season and still went on to lift the trophy, defeating Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter who finished first, third and fourth respectively.

Supercomputer predicts Tottenham to narrowly miss out on Champions League play-off bypass

If Tottenham finish in the top eight of the league phase, they will go straight into the last 16 and avoid the play-off round which would add two new fixtures to the calendar.

However, the Opta Supercomputer has predicted Spurs will finish ninth with 12.84 points, meaning an additional round would not be avoided. Should this prediction prove to be correct, Thomas Frank and his team would travel to Belgium to take on Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the club predicted to finish 24th.

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It would be frustrating for Spurs to finish one spot off automatically qualifying for the last 16, but placing ninth out of 36 teams would not be a bad result. The opening stage has got the better of Tottenham before in the 2016/17 season, when Maurico Pochettino’s men struggled to make Wembley Stadium feel like home.

Which fixtures could cause Spurs problems?

Tottenham have a reasonably favourable start to the Champions League, beginning with a home fixture against Villarreal. A trip to Bodo/Glimt comes next in a repeat of last season’s Europa League semi-final, which Spurs won.

However, there are some games which are not easy on paper. PSG away is the obvious pick and Tottenham will have done brilliantly to pick up anything from that match. Borussia Dortmund’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will not be easy either.

Away trips to Monaco and Eintracht Frankfurt will also test Tottenham, but they did get the better of the Bundesliga team away from home last season.

Considering Tottenham’s opponents and their start to the new Premier League campaign, there is certainly a chance they will prove the Supercomputer wrong and bypass the play-off round with a top eight finish.

Kota Takai is still waiting for his Tottenham Hotspur debut, but the young defender has already lifted the lid on life at Spurs, revealing the surprising squad member who has stepped in as his English teacher.

A few of Tottenham Hotspur’s new signings are already making their mark in North London, with some even impressing on the pitch in these early weeks of the season.

Xavi Simons made his debut against West Ham United and picked up an assist, while Mohammed Kudus has been heavily involved, featuring in every league fixture so far for Thomas Frank’s side, grabbing two assists in the process.

Joao Palhinha has also settled seamlessly into the holding midfield role, helping Tottenham keep three clean sheets from four league fixtures.

Still, not every new arrival has had the same chance, as Kota Takai and Kolo Muani continue to wait for their first minutes in a Spurs shirt.

Tottenham defender Kota Takai talks about life at Spurs

Kolo Muani is fit and edging closer to his debut, but the situation is different for Kota Takai, who is still nursing the foot injury that has kept him out since sealing his £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale.

Speaking to Tottenham’s official media channels, Takai has now opened up on his early days at Spurs, admitting that although he has enjoyed the experience so far, his focus remains on getting fit.

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When asked about life in north London so far, Takai said: “I think I am having a great time, and I just want to recover and get back to playing football soon.”

Asked about the wait for his first appearance, he kept his response short and honest, adding:

“I just want to play football with everyone.”

The 20-year-old was also quizzed about who he has grown closest to in the Spurs squad, and his answer will have surprised many supporters as he revealed: “Richarlison. He was the first one to come and talk to me. He is my English teacher.”

Takai then went further, praising the Brazilian’s character and support, saying: “He is a very nice guy.”

Recent reports have suggested that Kota Takai is edging closer to a return to full fitness, with the Japan international now back in training at Hotspur Way.

However, there remains no fixed date for his return to competitive action, which means Tottenham fans may have to wait a little longer before seeing him in a first-team matchday squad.

Tottenham return to the Champions League this week as Thomas Frank prepares to lead his side out in Europe for the first time. Let’s now take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face Villarreal.

Thomas Frank would have been pleased with the reaction from his Tottenham Hotspur players, who delivered a convincing 3-0 victory against West Ham United at the London Stadium in the Premier League, a strong response after the disappointment of losing to Bournemouth in matchweek three.

Attention now turns to European football as Spurs make their long-awaited return to the Champions League following a two-year absence, and the first challenge sees Villarreal arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For Frank, this tie marks his debut in Europe’s elite competition, and given the weight of the occasion, he will be eager for his side to put down a marker in front of the home crowd. Let us now see how Thomas Frank could line up this midweek.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Villarreal in the Champions League

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian has been almost flawless under Thomas Frank this season, conceding only once while keeping three clean sheets, and he is certain to continue between the posts.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spaniard produced an improved display when up against Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville and Diouf down Tottenham’s right, and while Djed Spence is an option, we do not expect Frank to rotate here.

Centre-back – Cristian Romero: Fresh from an assist and a clean sheet against West Ham, Romero has quietly been one of Spurs’ most consistent performers, and given the importance of starting with a win, we expect the Argentine to anchor the backline again.

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Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: Tottenham’s defensive partnership looks settled, and van de Ven, who also found the net last time out, should once again be paired with Romero in central defence.

Left-back – Destiny Udogie: The Italian has been steadily building up his fitness with substitute appearances and looks ready to return from the off in this European tie.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: Since making the move to north London, the Portuguese international has been commanding in midfield, and Frank is unlikely to leave him out of such a crucial encounter.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Lucas Bergvall impressed when handed a start against West Ham, but we expect Bentancur to be restored to the line-up to bring some control and experience in midfield.

Centre-midfielder – Xavi Simons: Deployed from the left in the Premier League last time, Simons showed flashes of his quality, but in this tie against Villarreal, he could take up the number ten role on his Spurs European debut.

Right midfielder – Mohammed Kudus: The Ghana international has featured in every Tottenham game this season and continues to be a vital outlet, so it is highly likely that Frank sticks with him again.

Striker – Richarlison: With Mathys Tel handed a chance in the Premier League but unavailable for the Champions League squad, Richarlison is set to lead the line and will look to seize his opportunity under the European spotlight.

Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up for a first Champions League campaign since 2022/23 and the Opta Supercomputer has predicted their chances of success.

Tottenham Hotspur were successful in Europe last season, winning the Europa League for a third time. Spurs overcame setbacks and lifted the trophy against all odds, earning automatic qualification into the Champions League.

However, the best club tournament in football is a big step up from the Europa League. Tottenham have failed to make it past the last 16 stage the past two times they have competed in the competition, falling to defeat against RB Leipzig and AC Milan.

Spurs will be playing in the Champions League for the first time since the new format was introduced and it means there is a greater chance of making it past the opening stage.

Despite this, a finish outside the top eight would require Tottenham to play an additional round before making it all the way to Budapest.

Opta Supercomputer gives Tottenham little chance of winning the Champions League

The Opta Supercomputer predicted Tottenham would finish 14th in the Premier League before their campaign began.

It has been equally harsh to Spurs ahead of the Champions League, predicting they have no more than a 1.1 per cent chance of winning the tournament. This is the least of all the English sides, including Newcastle United who have a 3 per cent chance (Opta Analyst).

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Tottenham may have made the final six years ago, but there is only a 2.8 per cent chance of this happening again, according to the Supercomputer.

The chances of Spurs reaching the semi-finals are slightly higher at 8.5 per cent, while the North London club are 22.9 per cent likely to make the quarter-finals.

It is important to note that the Supercomputer does not predict an outright winner in the same way pundits would.

Liverpool have been given the highest chance of victory and even they are only at 20.4 per cent.

Spurs can beat the odds of the Supercomputer

The Supercomputer has already shown its limitations by predicting Tottenham to finish so low in the Premier League table. It is certainly hard to believe that Newcastle are almost three times as likely to win the Champions League than Spurs are.

Very few backed Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham team to win the Europa League, including most Spurs supporters, but they did.

Winning the competition does seem unlikely at this point in time, but Thomas Frank has already built a strong team that could well go far in the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur kick off their 25/26 Champions League campaign as they host Spanish side Villarreal on Tuesday. Both sides return to Europe’s biggest stage after years away and will be eager to make a strong start in the group.

Two seasons later, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finally lights up for Champions League nights. It has been a long-awaited return and one that has been earned the hard way.

From getting knocked out in the round of 16 in the 22/23 season, to finishing fifth the following year, to then lifting the Europa League title last season, which ultimately secured Spurs a spot in the Champions League. That is Tottenham in a nutshell.

It has been a positive start to life under new manager Thomas Frank as well. Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League with three wins in four matches and trail Arsenal only on goal difference.

Despite going into the international break on a low after a poor 0-1 defeat to Bournemouth, they responded by beating West Ham 3-0 in East London, their first win there in six years.

The visitors, Villarreal, arrive in London in a very similar situation to Spurs, but in La Liga. They are fourth in the table with two wins, a draw, and a defeat from their opening four games.

They looked sharp in their opening two matches but dropped points with a 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo before losing 0-2 to Atletico Madrid before the international break.

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This is also Villarreal’s first Champions League appearance since the 21/22 season, and after years of mid-table finishes and Europa League adventures, last season’s fifth place secured their return.

What time does Tottenham vs Villarreal kick off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: 17 September 2025

Kick off time: 8 pm BST

Referee: Rade Obrenovic

VAR: Alen Borosak

Tottenham Hotspur vs Villarreal: Head to head record

These two sides have faced each other only once before, fifteen years ago when Spurs were under Harry Redknapp. Villarreal won that friendly match 4-1.

Not a single player from either squad remains with the club today, which renders the previous meeting largely irrelevant for this contest.

Tottenham team news

Injury news will not have much relevance here since most of those sidelined were not included in the 22-man Champions League squad anyway. Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Kota Takai, Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma are all out, while Dominic Solanke remains the closest to returning but is still expected to miss out with a short-term ankle injury.

Mathys Tel, who started the 3-0 win at West Ham, has also been omitted from Spurs’ squad for the competition.

Villarreal team news

The Spanish side will travel without Gerard Moreno, Logan Costa and Pau Cabanes, who are all out of contention.

Willy Kambwala is close to a return from a hamstring issue but remains doubtful for this fixture.

Predicted Tottenham line up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Simons, Bergvall; Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson

There is space for only one possible change in the back four. Djed Spence has been undroppable under Frank so far, and even if Destiny Udogie were to be included, it would likely be at left back with Spence shifting to the right in place of Pedro Porro.

Xavi Simons is expected to play centrally in the number ten role after drifting there naturally in the West Ham game despite being named as a number seven. That switch left the left wing free at times, which is why Brennan Johnson should start there, having come off the bench in that match.

Rodrigo Bentancur will likely keep his place after being an unused sub against West Ham, but there is a chance Frank might opt for Pape Sarr instead of Lucas Bergvall in midfield. Bergvall was impressive with a goal and an assist against West Ham, but Sarr has been the most consistent midfielder so far, and his form could earn him the nod.

Richarlison, despite not starting in East London, has been in good form with three goal contributions in three starts. That decision hinted at Frank saving him for this Champions League tie. However, expect Kolo Muani to make his Spurs debut off the bench in the second half to replace the Brazilian.

Our prediction

Despite both teams looking evenly matched in terms of recent form, Tottenham clearly have more quality across the pitch. The hunger and excitement to finally play Champions League football again will only fuel them further.

Xavi Simons is one to watch. He assisted on his Premier League debut without even being at his sharpest or in his natural position, and this occasion gives him the perfect stage to show more of his talent.

Another key man is Brennan Johnson. Known for showing up after a poor game and shushing the fans once he scores in the next; he underperformed against Bournemouth and so will be desperate to respond. Villarreal have been vulnerable at the back post, and that pretty explains everything.

Spurs have conceded just once in four league games and if they can hold off Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, it will not be easy for Villarreal to break them down.

Tottenham are stepping into a new era without Daniel Levy, and with the Lewis family holding the reins, there is already talk of a fresh approach that promises greater ambition on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur started life after Daniel Levy with a win over West Ham United in the Premier League, marking the first time in 24 years that the club competed without the former chairman at the helm.

Levy’s tenure delivered only two trophies across more than two decades, with their last success coming in Bilbao, Spain, when Tottenham lifted the Europa League.

Off the pitch, however, Levy transformed Tottenham into one of the most profitable sides in the game, making the club a financial powerhouse during his time in charge, even if that balance sheet success did not always translate into consistent triumphs on the field.

Tottenham set for new Lewis family approach after Levy exit

It is a new era in the boardroom for Tottenham, and according to fresh reports from The Telegraph, it is understood that sources close to the Lewis family have stressed that this next phase at Spurs will be different.

Those sources claim that Spurs will not be driven by debt but instead by what they described as “proper” backing, designed to give Tottenham the best chance of sustained sporting success.

While there are no specific details yet on how the investment will be delivered, those same sources underlined that “the proof will be in the pudding” and suggested that plans are already being mapped out behind the scenes.

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The Lewis family, who remain majority owners, have already pledged to back Tottenham in a manner that reflects sporting ambition rather than purely financial stability.

ENIC have also promised investment at a level that is expected to run into nine figures, with talk of a fresh transfer strategy to follow as part of this shift in approach.

Spurs fans cautious despite promises of investment

For Spurs supporters, there is reason to be excited about the promise of change, yet there is also a natural sense of caution, as fans have grown weary of bold statements that are not always matched by decisive action in the market.

Levy’s final summer in charge saw Tottenham spend heavily, with Thomas Frank handed more than £150 million worth of transfer backing, showing that significant outlay is possible, though the jury remains out on whether that level of support will be repeated consistently.

Crucially, Spurs remain in a strong position regarding PSR rules, which means they are well placed to spend again if the Lewis family decide to push forward.

It now falls on the ownership to turn their words into action and show real intent in order to back the manager properly and drive Tottenham towards genuine progress.

Thomas Frank had a few light-hearted words for Micky van de Ven after the Dutch defender found the back of the net in Tottenham’s victory over West Ham United.

It was a team display by Tottenham Hotspur when they took to the field against West Ham United on Saturday at the London Stadium.

Tottenham were 3-0 victors against Graham Potter’s men, as every member of Frank’s side pulled their weight to ensure Spurs bounced back from their 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth last time out.

Micky van de Ven scored a goal to give Tottenham their third goal of the day, while centre-back Cristian Romero grabbed an assist for Spurs’ second against the Hammers.

Thomas Frank speaks on Micky van de Ven after Tottenham win

When asked about the defender’s goal and his reaction on the touchline, Frank revealed he had been joking with Van de Ven as the Dutchman made his way off the pitch.

That was only the 24-year-old’s first goal of the season, his fourth in the Premier League and his fifth as a Tottenham player.

Speaking to football.london, Frank revealed what he demands from van de Ven, he said: “Yes, I want a goal from him from set-pieces. It was a second phase set-piece but it did not count if it was left or right foot. I need a header.”

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Van de Ven’s growing role under Frank at Spurs

Of course, so far under new boss Thomas Frank, Tottenham have looked a threat on set pieces, with the Lilywhites having already scored from set plays with Pape Sarr’s goal against West Ham.

Van de Ven and Romero remain threats from set pieces and can contribute to Tottenham goals this season, which would be important to Frank.

The Dutchman has already earned a reputation for his eclectic pace, but it is clear that Frank wants more from the 24-year-old, who can definitely add more goals to his game.

Tottenham Hotspur fans could not hide their excitement after watching Xavi Simons make his debut in the Premier League, with many already convinced he looks like a player who will light up the season.

Tottenham Hotspur began the post-Daniel Levy era in style, securing an emphatic 3-0 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Thomas Frank became the first Tottenham manager to win his opening two away fixtures in the Premier League, as Spurs carried on their strong start to life under the Dane.

The clash on Saturday also marked the debut of Xavi Simons, who joined just a few days before the summer transfer deadline, adding even more intrigue to an already lively afternoon.

Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons makes debut against West Ham

Simons marked his first appearance with an assist, delivering a pinpoint inswinging corner that was met perfectly by Pape Matar Sarr, who headed beyond the goalkeeper.

It was a solid outing for Spurs‘ new number seven, and now Tottenham fans have wasted little time in giving their verdict on the Dutchman, with many making the same point about his quality.

One supporter posted on X: “You can just see the quality instantly, he is going to be incredible.” Another wrote: “We have signed a superstar.”

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A third Tottenham fan said about Xavi Simons: “His corners are remarkably on point. His passing in general.” While one more commented: “Solid. I liked what I saw. Cannot wait to see him settle in.”

The praise continued as another said: “Absolutely brilliant! Looks the real deal,” while one final supporter kept it simple with: “Excellent.”

What next for Spurs and Simons?

Of course, this was only Xavi Simons’ first outing in a Tottenham shirt, but the early signs are positive, and it already looks as though he will grow into a key role under Thomas Frank.

The new Spurs boss will also be delighted to see his versatile midfielder making such an immediate impact, helping his side secure a comfortable win in his very first Premier League appearance.