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For the first time since the opening two weeks of the Premier League season, Tottenham have won back-to-back league games, following an impressive and dominant 2-1 victory over a heavily rotated Aston Villa side. Let’s take a look at our match report.

Last week, Tottenham finally put an end to their 118-day wait for a Premier League win with a narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves, and now, they have gone one step further by ending another unwanted streak, securing consecutive league wins for the first time in 253 days.

Roberto De Zerbi named what was arguably his strongest available side, including a midfield trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, and Conor Gallagher that, if we are being honest, did not exactly inspire confidence before kick-off. However, what followed over the next 90 minutes was nothing short of a De Zerbi masterclass.

With one eye firmly on the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, Unai Emery made sweeping changes, resting most of his key players, and Villa never quite looked at the races as a result.

First half: Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham

Tottenham set the tone almost immediately, as their aggressive pressing forced an early opening inside three minutes, although Richarlison wasted a golden opportunity by turning and shooting when a simple pass to the unmarked Randal Kolo Muani would likely have resulted in a certain opener.

That miss did not come back to haunt them, though, as Spurs deservedly took the lead just under ten minutes later when Conor Gallagher rifled a stunning strike from the edge of the box after Kevin Danso’s long throw had only been half-cleared, with the midfielder opening his account for the club in emphatic fashion.

Joao Palhinha then came close to doubling the advantage with a similarly powerful effort from distance, but Emiliano Martinez reacted sharply to tip the ball onto the near post, before producing another fine save to deny Kolo Muani from close range.

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However, there was little the Argentine World Cup Winner could do to prevent Tottenham’s second, as Richarlison rose highest to head home an excellent inswinging cross from Mathys Tel’s weak foot, doubling their advantage.

Second half: Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham

Tottenham came out of the break with no drop in intensity, continuing to dominate proceedings even as Villa showed marginal improvement and at least began to see more of the ball. However, they still struggled to create anything of real note against a well-drilled Spurs side.

Whenever possession was lost, which was rare, De Zerbi’s men reacted superbly, be it Kevin Danso commanding in the air, Micky van de Ven using his pace to recover, or both Bentancur and Palhinha intercepting danger before it could develop into anything meaningful.

In truth, it always felt as though the only way Tottenham would concede was if the final whistle was not blown on time, and that proved to be exactly the case in stoppage time. Despite the five minutes of added time having already elapsed, Villa were allowed one final attack, with substitute Emiliano Buendia heading home from a Matty Cash cross, remarkably from their first effort on target of the night

FT: ASTON VILLA 1-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Spurs Web man of the match: Conor Gallagher

What’s next for Spurs?

There will inevitably be plenty of focus on Aston Villa’s heavy rotation and how that may have contributed to Tottenham’s dominance, but that should not take away from what was, quite simply, Spurs’ best performance of the season.

Considering the injury crisis that has plagued them for much of the campaign, the transformation under Roberto De Zerbi has been remarkable, with a group that previously looked devoid of energy and confidence now playing with structure, intensity, and belief.

This victory lifts Tottenham out of the bottom three, now sitting one point clear of the drop zone, and with 18th-placed West Ham facing league leaders Arsenal next, there is a genuine opportunity for that gap to widen further.

As for Spurs, attention now turns to a home clash against Leeds United.

Roberto De Zerbi has provided an update on the fitness of Micky van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentacur following Tottenham Hotspur’s win at Villa Park.

Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa significantly boosts their chances of survival, with Roberto De Zerbi now out of the bottom three and just two points behind 16th-placed Nottingham Forest.

It was the sort of performance that Spurs fans have not seen their side produce for a long time, with the away team being completely dominant and hardly giving up any chances.

Many senior Tottenham stars stepped up against Villa, amid the club’s injury crisis, but there were some potential fresh injury concerns for the Lilywhites.

While the win came as a huge boost to the Lilywhites in the race to avoid relegation, Spurs also suffered a couple of injury scares.

Bentancur, who was one of the best players on the pitch, came off on 67 minutes, while Van de Ven also appeared to have rolled his ankle in the dying stages of the game.

However, thankfully, De Zerbi has made it clear that neither the midfielder nor the centre-back has suffered any injuries.

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When asked if Van de Ven had rolled his ankle, the Tottenham boss said (via Football.London): “No, no, no. He’s ok.” When asked if Bentancur was okay, the Italian said: “Yes, yes, Bentancur was just tired.”

Huge win for Spurs but job is not yet done

Two back-to-back wins have lifted the spirits of the Tottenham fan base as well as the players.

The Spurs stars were playing with the kind of confidence that we have not seen for much of the season, but De Zerbi will not want to celebrate too early.

He will know that his side are not out of trouble just yet, with a huge clash against Leeds coming up next Monday.

The underlying numbers from Conor Gallagher’s performance for Tottenham against Aston Villa suggest that Roberto De Zerbi’s side may have found a solution to their lack of a natural number 10.

Tottenham Hotspur, for the first time this year, put in a performance that many fans could get behind when they took to the pitch at Villa Park on Sunday evening.

The stakes were high for Roberto De Zerbi’s men, who would have been desperate to make London rivals West Ham United pay for their slip-up in their own league game against Brentford, where they lost 3-0.

Victory for Spurs was set to lift them out of the drop zone into 17th, leapfrogging Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

De Zerbi’s side delivered, as Tottenham not only secured a 2-1 victory but did so convincingly, playing with intensity and purpose while dominating and controlling the game from start to finish.

It has taken the Italian four games to get these players into shape and spirit, and many fans will now be fancying Tottenham’s chances of staying up.

Tottenham see Conor Gallagher shine in Aston Villa win

While the manager deserves credit for how well he set his team up, a few players on the night were equally impressive.

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One standout performer against Aston Villa was winter signing Gallagher, who produced his best performance in a Tottenham shirt since joining in January.

The Englishman, known for his pressing and intensity, displayed both at Villa Park as he bossed the midfield in his own way – full of energy, winning the ball and helping to apply pressure on Villa’s defence.

It was a complete display, capped by a well-taken goal from outside the box – his first for Spurs – as a low-driven effort from the former Chelsea man beat Emiliano Martinez and nestled into the bottom corner.

His underlying numbers reflected his impact, with FotMob awarding Gallagher an 8.2 rating, making him the player of the match, while his 11 defensive contributions stood out remarkably for a player operating furthest forward in midfield.

Gallagher gives Spurs a different edge in attack

Gallagher is certainly not your James Maddison or Xavi Simons, capable of playing intricate, line-breaking passes that repeatedly split defences.

In fact, against Villa, the Englishman did not create a big chance, nor did he manage a touch in the box, but his influence on the game was felt.

That is because Gallagher brought a quality that helped Spurs sustain pressure high up the pitch – his ability to press and close down opponents aggressively.

De Zerbi leaned on that to manage the absence of his creative players, with the 26-year-old key to maintaining pressure in Villa’s half and allowing Tottenham to create chances without a natural number ten.

When possession is won high up the pitch, there is little need for elaborate passing; a simple short pass can open teams up, and it worked to perfection on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur finally made it two in two in 2026 with their 2-1 win over Aston Villa, after going 118 days without a victory, thanks to strikes from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.

Let us take a look at the five things we learned.

Tottenham are out of the relegation zone

Coming into tonight’s encounter, the task for Tottenham Hotspur was simply to pick up a victory against Aston Villa, as that would see them leave the drop zone.

A loss would simply not have cut it for Spurs, as it would have left them languishing in 18th with three games to go, and would have let West Ham United off the hook following their 3-0 defeat to Brentford.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men stuck to the task and delivered arguably their best performance under the Italian since he took charge.

Not only was this Spurs’ best display of the year, but the win has also seen Tottenham climb out of the relegation zone, now sitting 17th with three games to go.

That victory also puts Spurs in control of their own destiny as we reach the business end of the season – win all your remaining games and Premier League status is secured.

Spurs create from width and aggressive midfield press

There is no denying that Spurs have a long list of injuries to contend with, as nine players were missing from this clash with Villa.

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The injury Xavi Simons picked up last time out only compounded Spurs’ misery, as they lost their last natural central creator, raising questions over how De Zerbi would adapt.

However, rather than change formation, he stuck with his usual setup and instead looked to create from wide areas, with Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel driving at defenders and picking passes, while the second goal came from a wide delivery by the Frenchman.

Alongside that, Tottenham pressed high and aggressively, forcing errors, winning the ball high up, and allowing them to find attackers quickly without relying on a traditional playmaker.

That enabled them to move the ball forward with ease, without needing moments of individual brilliance in midfield. It worked superbly for Spurs, and De Zerbi showed exactly why he was so highly sought after by Tottenham.

Conor Gallagher delivers standout Spurs performance

It is not surprising that Conor Gallagher produced his best performance in a Spurs shirt, given Tottenham’s setup against Aston Villa.

De Zerbi clearly played to his strengths with an intense pressing system, and the midfielder responded superbly – scoring, pressing high, forcing errors, winning duels in midfield, and driving play forward.

Spurs need fight and character in this battle, and Gallagher showed exactly that with his display, one that sets a strong platform to build from.

Rodrigo Bentancur key as Tottenham midfield takes control

Midfield often wins you games, and Tottenham’s dominance in that area was clear throughout the evening.

The coordinated press from the first minute cut off passing lanes into Villa’s midfield, forcing them long, while Spurs were able to find their own midfielders with ease, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha excelling in the pivot.

Bentancur, in particular, has galvanised Tottenham since his return, showing composure, rarely being dispossessed, and releasing passes at the right moments.

His influence has been consistent regardless of his partner, and it is no surprise Spurs’ improved form has coincided with his return, although he was forced off with a knock late on. Tottenham will now be hoping it is nothing too serious.

Djed Spence covers in attack as Spurs depth tested

With nine players sidelined, Tottenham remain very short in attack, with just three fit senior forwards in Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Mathys Tel.

Tonight highlighted that lack of depth, as full-back Djed Spence was introduced in place of Kolo Muani with 25 minutes to play.

The versatile left-back did not slot into a defensive role, instead moving straight into the right-wing position Muani had been occupying.

Should any further injuries hit the front line, it could quickly become panic stations in terms of finding replacements.

However, that does not necessarily have to be the case, as De Zerbi could look towards the Tottenham U21s for additional wide options.

Even if they are not ready to start, having them on the bench could boost confidence and provide Spurs with natural wing alternatives.

The full-time whistle has been blown in the match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park, and it is time for our player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time in 2026 with their victory over Aston Villa. This result has now seen Spurs leave the relegation zone with three games to play.

Let us take a look at how the individual players got on.

Tottenham player ratings vs Aston Villa

Antonin Kinsky – The Czech international was barely tested in the first half, and it was more of the same in the second half, with most of Villa’s efforts being blocked before reaching the goalkeeper. He was excellent with his feet throughout, though, which is exactly what De Zerbi needs. Late on, Villa managed a consolation as they pulled one back, and there was nothing Kinsky could do. 7.5.

Pedro Porro – We saw him in the first half play less in a traditional role, instead tucking into midfield and helping to progress the ball to the attacking players, keeping Spurs ticking. In the second half, his role was more conservative as he rarely ventured forward, with Spurs protecting their two-goal lead. 8.

Kevin Danso – The centre-back stuck to his task well in the first half, where he was not scared to push up the pitch and put in tackles before Villa players reached the box. It was more of the same in the second half, as he maintained his aggression in tackles and continued to press high when needed. 8.5.

Micky van de Ven – After a quiet first half where the Dutchman had little to do defensively, the second half brought more intensity from Unai Emery’s side, who managed to get in behind more often, but van de Ven’s pace bailed Spurs out. 8.

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Destiny Udogie – In the first half, the full-back was very adventurous, bombing forward, inverting and overlapping. In the second half, that happened far less, as he played more conservatively with Tottenham looking to secure the win. 7.5.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese came close to scoring in the first half with a long-range effort, but was denied by both Emi Martinez and the upright. In the second half, we saw more of his ball-winning ability in midfield, where he made key interceptions, tackles and blocks. 8.5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – It was a complete display from the Uruguayan from the first half until he was substituted in the second half. The Tottenham star showed composure in midfield with his short passing, helping to keep things ticking, while also being aggressive in the tackle and winning several duels. 8.5.

Conor Gallagher – It was more of the same from the Englishman after a superb first half, where he pressed from the first minute and scored the opener. In the second half, Gallagher picked up where he left off, pressing with intensity. 9.

Mathys Tel – In the first half, his standout moment was his assist for Spurs’ second, which Richarlison finished in style. He could have done more with the ball at times, as he held onto the ball too long when teammates were available. In the second half, chances were not as plentiful, but he still offered width and an outlet. 8.

Richarlison – A solid performance from the Brazilian, who scored Tottenham’s second in the first half with a thumping header after meeting Mathys Tel’s cross. In the second half, chances were limited, but he continued to press and work for the team. 8.

Randal Kolo Muani – A much-improved performance from the Frenchman compared to his last two outings under Roberto De Zerbi. In the first half, we saw direct, creative wing play, which helped Spurs apply pressure. He also contributed in pressing and closing down. He ran out of energy in the second half, which was evident during a counter-attack when he made a poor decision, and was later replaced by Djed Spence. 7.5

Substitutes

Yves Bissouma – Replaced Rodrigo Bentancur and slotted straight into midfield, ensuring Spurs maintained control in the centre of the pitch. 7.

Djed Spence – Offered width on the right after replacing Randal Kolo Muani. He was a willing runner, got into the box on a few occasions and had a shot ruled out for offside. 7.

Pape Matar Sarr – Returned from injury and got a few minutes off the bench after replacing Richarlison late in the second half. N/A.

The half-time whistle has blown in the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hitspur, and it’s time for our player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur head into the break leading 2-0 at Villa Park after a display of high intensity and purpose, and are now out of the bottom three, sitting in 17th place as they look to capitalise on West Ham’s defeat on Saturday.

Let us take a look at how the individual players got on:

Antonin Kinsky – The Czech international has barely been tested in this encounter, with Villa not managing a single shot at goal. 6.

Pedro Porro – The rotation on display in the first half has been impressive. While Porro is lined up as a right-back, he often drifts into central areas to give Tottenham more bodies in the middle. He has been tidy with the ball, always looking to progress the ball with forward passes. 7.

Kevin Danso – The centre-back’s long throw led to the opening goal as Spurs won the second ball. He also helped Tottenham maintain their high press, often applying pressure as high as the halfway line, and has covered for Porro when he ventures forward. 7.5.

Micky van de Ven – The Dutchman has had little to do defensively, but he is not afraid to push up and apply pressure high up the pitch. 7.

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Destiny Udogie – The full-back was superb when marshalling Sancho on Spurs’ left, not giving him a sniff, while showing good strength and pace. He also looked to contribute to attacks, overlapping and inverting when needed. 7.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese could well have made it 2-0 for Spurs after he let fly from range, only for Martinez to push his strike onto the upright to keep the scoreline at 1-0. 8.

Rodrigo Bentancur – He has played his midfield role to perfection in the first half, keeping things ticking in the middle of the park with minimum fuss. Superb from the Uruguayan. He did pick up a booking late in the half. 8.

Conor Gallagher – We saw exactly why he continues to be selected ahead of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, as his pressing from the front forced Villa into an early mistake, although Tottenham failed to make it count. The Englishman then opened the scoring with a low, driven strike from range, leaving Martinez with no chance. 9.

Mathys Tel – The Frenchman is in for Xavi Simons on the left and is operating as a traditional winger. He has looked really good in his role, although he often holds onto the ball for too long. He did get the assist for Richarlison’s goal with a wicked delivery following a corner. 8.

Richarlison – Had a good chance early on after Tottenham pinched the ball high up following a loose pass from Emi Martinez, but his effort was blocked. He eventually found the back of the net with a thumping header following a wicked delivery from the right by Tel. 8.

The Tottenham Hotspur starting line-up for the Premier League match against Aston Villa has been confirmed ahead of kick-off.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action this evening as they take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side.

The Lilywhites remain embroiled in a relegation scrap, but this evening presents a perfect opportunity to leapfrog West Ham United into 17th after their 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, making victory crucial.

A defeat for Spurs, however, will keep them in the bottom three with three games left to play, which will be far from ideal in their battle for survival.

Tottenham injury woes deepen ahead of Aston Villa clash

Roberto De Zerbi now has to rely on a small group of players following the latest injury knocks that have hit his side.

Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke became the latest names to join the treatment table after picking up injuries in the 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

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Simons has suffered an ACL injury and will miss the rest of the season, while Solanke’s return remains uncertain, with reports suggesting his campaign could also be over.

That means the pair join Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero and Wilson Odobert as players with long-term injuries who are out for the season.

Destiny Udogie is now back in the matchday squad, while Guglielmo Vicario remains out following his hernia operation.

James Maddison is once more included in the squad, as De Zerbi aims to keep the Englishman close to the group.

This is the Tottenham team which takes to the field at Villa Park tonight:

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; Sancho, Barkley, Rogers; Abraham.

Subs: Bizot, Konsa, Buendia, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Luiz, Bailey.

Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Pedro Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.

Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall, Spence, Sarr, Souza.

Spurs must lean on Villa Park record despite setbacks

Spurs will certainly be hoping the XI they have put together will be enough as they chase three crucial points.

The hope for Tottenham will be they maintain their impressive record at Villa Park, having won eight of their last ten visits, as doing so could see them put their destiny in their own hands.

Ahead of the match, head coach De Zerbi has already issued a rallying call, urging his players to rise to the occasion and play with intensity and desire. Hopefully, they do so tonight.

Barcelona have turned their attention to a senior Tottenham star, and this is having a significant impact on the summer plans at Inter Milan.

Some of the biggest clubs around Europe are circling over Tottenham’s stars, potentially eyeing bargain deals if the Lilywhites get relegated from the Premier League.

Reports from Spain have suggested that Barca could be doing some groundwork on potential discount deals from Tottenham.

A senior Tottenham star, who has been widely tipped to leave the North London club, is on the Catalan club’s wishlist.

Barcelona’s interest in Tottenham’s Cristian Romero is causing nerves at Inter Milan

A couple of days ago, it emerged that Barca had identified Cristian Romero as a ‘Plan B’ if they are priced out of a move for Alessandro Bastoni.

According to a new report in Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), the La Liga giants’ interest in the Tottenham captain has led to ‘concern’ and ‘nervousness’ at Inter Milan.

The Italian club were planning to hold talks with Barca regarding Bastoni, with the Nerazzurri demanding €60m (£51.8m) for the Italy international.

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However, Barca do not want to pay more than €50m (£43.1m) and would prefer to include one of their players as part of the deal.

Inter now fear that Bastoni’s sale may be jeopardised if they take a strong stance, as that would force Hasni Flick’s men to prioritise a deal for Romero instead.

How much are Spurs expected to demand for Romero?

Sport say that the Argentine centre-back’s price is less than what Inter are demanding for Bastoni, but they do not specify how much Tottenham are demanding.

The outlet claims that Romero is keen on making a switch to Camp Nou, and is waiting to see if Barca make a move for him.

Tottenham Hotspur may have to reconsider their plans for Guglielmo Vicario and their pursuit of James Trafford following the latest update regarding the Manchester City goalkeeper’s future.

Trafford’s return to City has not gone the way the young goalkeeper would have hoped, with the 23-year-old being backed to exit the Etihad Stadium this summer in search of regular first-team football.

Tottenham have identified Trafford as a target to replace Guglielmo Vicario, who is expected to return to the Serie A this summer.

It has been reported that Newcastle and Aston Villa are ready to challenge Spurs for the Man City man, and one of them could be about to make a decisive move.

Aston Villa ready to step up pursuit of Tottenham target James Trafford

Football Insider now reports that Villa are set to step up their chance of the former Burnley goalkeeper amid fresh fears over Emiliano Martinez’s departure.

The website reveals that Inter Milan are keen on striking a deal for Martinez, with the Villans expecting the Nerazzurri to make an offer for their number one.

Unai Emery is said to have identified Trafford as a ‘readymade replacement’ for the Argentine goalkeeper, with the Villa hierarchy also fans of the England international.

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The Midlands club’s recruitment team are now ready to ‘begin pressing towards a deal’ for the 23-year-old as they go about strengthening their squad ahead of their expected return to the Champions League next season.

Inter Milan’s interest in Martinez could impact Spurs’ summer plans

This story may have multiple repercussions for Tottenham as Inter have reportedly held talks with Vicario over a summer switch to the San Siro.

In fact, the Serie A giants have been named as the Spurs goalkeeper’s most likely destination, with Vicario even alleged to have agreed personal terms with Inter.

Micky van de Ven is attracting interest from two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, but he is not yet ruling out staying at Tottenham Hotspur.

Over the last few months, some outlets have suggested that Van de Ven’s head has been turned ahead of the summer window after some of the biggest clubs in Europe expressed their interest in the centre-back.

Spurs Web even relayed a report last month claiming that the Dutchman is signalling with his off-field antics that he expects to leave this summer.

Last week, it emerged that Man United had set their sights on a deal for Van de Ven, and they have now been joined by their fierce rivals in the transfer race.

Liverpool and Man United ‘on alert’ regarding Micky van de Ven’s Tottenham future

CaughtOffside now say that as the Netherlands international gets set to make a decision on his future, Man United and Liverpool are both keeping a close eye on his situation.

Both the Reds and the Red Devils are said to be keen on reinforcing their backline, with Van de Ven featuring near the top of their list.

The Dutchman’s experience in the Premier League, allied with the possibility that he could be available if Spurs get relegated, has put both giants ‘on alert’.

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It is suggested that it could be tricky for Tottenham to persuade the 25-year-old to stay, even if they stay up, but the central defender will not come cheap.

The North London club could demand £60m-£80m for Van de Ven, who is contracted to Tottenham until 2029.

Van de Ven is yet to make a final decision on his Spurs future

CaughtOffside make it clear that several sources have reiterated that the former Wolfsburg man has not made a decision on his future just yet.

Van de Ven has not held talks with any club and remains fully focused on helping Tottenham remain in the Premier League.