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Tottenham Hotspur will kick off their Champions League campaign in North London against Villarreal, and the Opta Supercomputer has provided its verdict on the game.

The wait for Tottenham Hotspur to return to European action is almost over. Spurs did play in Europe last month in the UEFA Super Cup, but it is the Europa League campaign last season which will be on the minds of their supporters.

Spurs will be looking for another successful season, this time on club football’s biggest stage, but there will be obstacles looking to trip them up along the way. The first is Villareal, who concluded their previous La Liga campaign with a fifth-place finish.

Villarreal were strong in attack last season, outscoring every team except Barcelona and Real Madrid. Ayoze Perez was their big goal threat, finding the back of the net 19 times. Thierno Barry scored 11, but he moved to Everton in the summer.

Supercomputer predicts Tottenham vs Villarreal odds

Despite their attacking threat, Villarreal looked vulnerable in defence. They even conceded more goals than Deportivo Alaves, who finished 15th in the league. Tottenham had similar problems in the Premier League, but already look like a very different side under the management of Thomas Frank.

It is therefore unsurprising that the Opta Supercomputer has given Spurs a 50 per cent chance of defeating Villarreal on Tuesday night.

Villarreal have a 25.3 per cent chance of snatching all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while there is a 24.7 per cent chance that the game ends in a draw.

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Spurs are in better form than Villarreal

Tottenham made a winning return after the international break, and they did so in style, thrashing West Ham by three goals.

Villarreal, on the other hand, were defeated 2-0 by Atletico Madrid and have a quick turnaround. The match took place on Saturday night and they have had to travel to London before playing again on Tuesday.

Spurs will be high on confidence and really ought to have the upper hand. Anything less than a win would be a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign.

Tottenham are back in the Champions League spotlight this week as Thomas Frank prepares for his first taste of European football, with Villarreal the visitors to N17 for what promises to be a compelling night under the lights. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Villarreal.

UEFA Champions League football returns to N17 after a two-year absence this week, when Tottenham Hotspur play their first League phase tie on Tuesday against Spanish side Villarreal.

Thomas Frank’s men go into their Champions League encounter on the back of an emphatic 3-0 victory against West Ham United in the Premier League, as they secured their third win in four league fixtures under the 51-year-old.

The Dane will, of course, be hoping he can kick off Spurs’ return to Europe’s premier competition with a win, in a tie that also marks his first ever game in European football.

When and where is the game?

The clash between Tottenham and Villarreal will be staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal in the UK

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal live on Amazon Prime Video.

Tottenham and Villarreal team news

Coming into this tie, Tottenham have several fitness concerns, with Dejan Kulusevski sidelined until early November due to a knee injury, while James Maddison is ruled out with an ACL injury.

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Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin are also ruled out as they are yet to return to full fitness, while Yves Bissouma is still nursing a knock, but all of this matters little as these players are not part of Frank’s Champions League squad.

Dominic Solanke, however, could make a return in this tie, after picking up an ankle injury before the international break, but we would have to keep an eye on Thomas Frank’s presser.

Villarreal, on the other hand, also has injury problems of their own, with forward Gerard Moreno expected to be out until late September with a hamstring issue, while both Logan Costa and Pau Cabanes face lengthy spells on the sidelines with cruciate ligament injuries that will keep them out until April 2026.

Willy Kambwala is also a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham and Villarreal

It is a home tie for Spurs, which should give them an edge over the La Liga side; however, it is worth noting that Tottenham have already lost at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season to Bournemouth.

Regardless, they come into this tie in much better form, having won three of their last four league fixtures, while Villarreal have a record of two wins, a draw and a defeat in their previous four outings.

It would be a tricky encounter for the Lilywhites, but it is one that Frank’s men will feel they can edge, and we believe Tottenham will grab a win here.

Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to express a serious interest in an England midfielder, with the Lilywhites considering a move for him in the January transfer window.

Spurs made seven new additions to their squad in the summer window, but reports indicate that they have already started planning for January.

According to several sources, Tottenham’s transfer strategy is expected to change after the exit of Daniel Levy, with the Lilywhites eyeing ‘elite’ signings who can take the team to the next level.

It has now emerged that the North London club are seriously considering signing a former Premier League star, who was linked with a move to N17 briefly in the summer.

Tottenham want to sign Conor Gallagher in January

This report comes from Fichajes, who say that Conor Gallagher’s future at Atletico Madrid is now uncertain, with Premier League clubs continuing to show interest in the midfielder.

It is revealed that Man United came very close to signing the 25-year-old during the summer before the negotiations fell through in the end.

The outlet claims that Tottenham Hotspur have now ‘entered the bidding war with a bang’, with Thomas Frank’s side seeing Gallagher as the ‘ideal addition’ to their midfield.

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Spurs are willing to start negotiations over the former Chelsea man ‘immediately’ as they look to wrap up a deal in January.

Atletico Madrid’s and Conor Gallagher’s transfer stance

Fichajes say that the La Liga giants are now ‘carefully considering’ what to do with the England international’s future.

While Diego Simone values Gallagher’s versatility and his attributes, the club are aware that his departure would bring in significant revenue.

Meanwhile, the England international’s entourage is not ruling out any scenario in January. While Gallaher is happy at the Spanish capital, he is tempted by the opportunity to return to the Premier League.

Tottenham have been told what it will take to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta after Crystal Palace rejected their initial approach, with fresh claims suggesting the forward could still be prised away.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a late deal for Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day, with Thomas Frank expressing his satisfaction at the capture of the French striker, who adds depth and versatility to his attacking options.

However, it has since emerged that Tottenham were also willing to push hard for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, a move that would have raised plenty of eyebrows across the Premier League given Palace’s reliance on the Frenchman.

Palace stood firm and rejected Tottenham’s approach, ensuring Mateta remained at Selhurst Park, where he has already opened his account for the campaign in a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Tottenham told Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer valuation

Following Spurs‘ failed attempt to prise Mateta away from Crystal Palace, Everton’s former chief, Keith Wyness, has revealed the sort of figure that would now be required to tempt Palace into selling the striker.

Wyness, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a consultancy advising elite clubs, explained that Palace were never likely to part ways with the forward cheaply.

Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Palace were right to stand firm on their valuation.

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He said: “He is one of the stars that they could not let go. They had already let a couple go, and I think he had to be there. I do not think £40m is the right price for him at the moment, for a goal scorer.

“He is probably worth a little bit more than that, but he is one they could not let go, so I was not surprised to see them stick their feet in on that one.”

“He may end up going at some stage, but he is going to be at a higher valuation. He is a quality player and I think he is going to have a good season, so we will see how that plays into it as well.

“Palace, Glasner is trying to build, and obviously Mateta likes Glasner, responds well to his management. The key to this is going to be where Glasner is going to be going forward as well.

“So we will see how Palace shape up on that one. I think they are managing to at least keep hold of the semblance of most of the squad, that they did quite well with.”

Spurs’ interest in Crystal Palace players

Jean-Philippe Mateta is not the only Crystal Palace player Tottenham have tracked in recent months, with Frank keeping a close eye on several of their top talents.

Adam Wharton was strongly admired by Tottenham last summer, with Frank understood to be a fan of the midfielder, although Palace’s valuation was considered excessive.

Spurs also attempted to move for Marc Guehi in the winter window, tabling a £70m offer for the centre-back, which was swiftly rejected.

Tottenham’s attempts to raid Palace have so far proven unsuccessful, with the collapse of Eberechi Eze’s proposed move to north London standing as the most recent example.

With Frank already boasting strong options in attack following the arrival of Kolo Muani, it remains to be seen whether Spurs will revisit their interest in Mateta later down the line.

The German media have highlighted one issue Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic had in his Hamburg debut against Bayern Munich.

It was a tough Bundesliga debut for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic, who suffered a painful 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Vuskovic, who has plenty of potential and had caught the eye during Tottenham’s pre-season matches, was sent out on loan during the summer window to newly promoted Hamburg.

The 18-year-old featured for the full ninety minutes in the fixture against Bayern Munich, but it was surely a debut to forget for the 6ft 4in centre back.

German media unimpressed with Luka Vuskovic in Hamburg vs Bayern

The German press were far from impressed with Luka Vuskovic’s first outing in the Bundesliga as Hamburg were put to the sword by Bayern Munich.

Bild, who rated the defender’s performance at 5/10, made note of the teenager’s struggles, highlighting that he had communication issues with his teammates.

The outlet wrote: “Was unlucky with Luis Diaz’s shot, which he deflected into his own net. He also had some communication issues with teammates. He won 63 percent of his duels, the best of all HSV players who started.”

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It indeed was a testing start for Vuskovic against one of Europe’s strongest sides, and while there were glimpses of his quality, it is clear that there is still room for improvement.

Hamburg manager convinced Vuskovic would improve after debut to forget

Vuskovic is bound to find it difficult when coming up against the likes of Bayern Munich, especially as he has joined a Hamburg side who are struggling to adjust to the Bundesliga and currently sits 17th in the table.

Hamburg manager Steffen Polzin also admitted after the game that Vuskovic is lacking rhythm and understanding with his teammates, but he is convinced the Croatian defender will settle in and prove his worth.

Speaking to Hamburger Abendblatt, Polzin said: “He lacks preparation with us and coordination with his teammates. We will continue to work on that. Luka has the quality. We fully support him and believe he can really help us.”

The Croatian centre-back would now be looking to put this performance behind him quickly, as Hamburg take on the bottom of the table side FC Heidenheim in their next league fixture, in what is a vital clash.

Real Madrid are once again circling Tottenham, and this time the focus has turned to one of Thomas Frank’s most important defenders.

Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid are no strangers when it comes to doing business in the transfer market.

Gareth Bale moved from Tottenham to Madrid, while Luka Modric also made a similar switch, with both players elevating their careers following their departure from N17.

Rumours suggest Madrid are once again sniffing around one Tottenham star, Micky van de Ven, although Spurs are now looking to tie him down to a new deal.

Tottenham star Micky van de Ven on Real Madrid radar

Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke has now outlined why Micky van de Ven has caught Real Madrid’s attention.

He explained that with injuries troubling Los Blancos in defence and contracts winding down, the club have begun looking at several options, with Van de Ven emerging as one of them.

O’Rourke revealed: “We know that Real Madrid are in the market for a new centre-back next summer. Rudiger is out of contract, Alaba is out of contract and they have had a few injury issues as well, so they have been linked with the likes of Konate on a free transfer.

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“It is not a surprise that Van de Ven is on their radar, he has been a top player for Tottenham and for the Netherlands, but Tottenham are not looking to sell any time soon.

“A move for Van de Ven would seem unlikely as things stand. He is under contract until 2029 and he will be a key man for Thomas Frank going forward alongside Cristian Romero at the back.”

Spurs must show ambition and keep their best players

Tottenham are now operating in a very different era following the departure of Daniel Levy, who stepped down after 24 years at the helm.

The former chairman was the figure who built the strong relationship between Tottenham and Madrid, but with him now gone, it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be open to doing business with Los Blancos in the same way.

Tottenham Hotspur destroyed West Ham United, and certain players really stood out during the Premier League victory.

Tottenham Hotspur travelled to the London Stadium with a point to prove, after slipping up against Bournemouth before the international break. West Ham got off to a dreadful start in the Premier League, but shocked Nottingham Forest in their previous fixture.

Despite these surprising results, Spurs battered their London rivals 3-0 to secure a first victory in Stratford since 2019.

Here are the three winners and losers of Tottenham’s impressive victory against West Ham on Saturday evening.

Pape Matar Sarr got his goal

Pape Matar Sarr began to show his abilities in front of goal last season, and he was a real threat during Tottenham’s summer friendlies. He now has his first Premier League goal of the season, after heading the ball in from a corner as West Ham’s defenders could only stand by and watch.

The fact that Sarr scored in this particular fixture is important because Xavi Simons made his debut. However, rather than playing Simons in attacking midfield and dropping Sarr, Thomas Frank started both, and they combined to open the scoring.

Sarr has given his manager something to think about. Simons may have looked a little limited out on the left, but is it worth playing him there so there is room for Sarr in the team?

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Lucas Bergvall impressed again for Tottenham

Lucas Bergvall had a miserable international break with Sweden. He was called up to his national team only to be an unused substitute in a draw and a defeat against Slovenia and Kosovo, respectively.

Things improved for Bergvall when he returned to North London. The 19-year-old was handed his first start since the 3-0 win over Burnley on the opening weekend of the league season, and he made the most of it.

Bergvall scored a brilliant header and also got an assist. It would be very harsh if he is not awarded another start against either Villarreal or Brighton & Hove Albion.

Tottenham’s defensive duo were key to the victory

This is technically two players, but it is difficult to mention one without commenting on the other. Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero were both solid against West Ham and kept yet another clean sheet.

On top of this, van de Ven scored with an exceptional strike. It is not the first time the Netherlands international has displayed his shooting skills. Romero contributed in attack too, assisting Bergvall with an excellent ball over the top of the West Ham defence.

The Tottenham captain would have also been on the scoresheet, but his goal was disallowed due to a shocking decision by the referee, which VAR failed to overturn. van de Ven was shoved into a defender who hit the ground, and just like that, Romero was denied his moment. This was unable to spoil a great display by both centre-backs.

Now, let’s take a look at the three losers from Tottenham’s 3-0 win over West Ham.

Djed Spence did not have his finest game

Djed Spence came off the bench to make his England debut against Serbia and he will have been delighted to come back to Tottenham and start ahead of Destiny Udogie. Unfortunately, he was a long way off his best and received the lowest rating of any Spurs player in the starting lineup on Fotmob.

Spence failed to place an accurate cross and he had one touch in the West Ham penalty box. His 0.01 xA showed his lack of creativity, while he lost possession 22 times. On top of this, the left back only won four of his 11 ground duels and he received a booking.

The left back position is one of the most competitive in the Tottenham team because if one player is underperforming, he will very quickly be replaced. Spence’s performance against West Ham was by no means a disaster, but any underwhelming display could lead to Udogie replacing him in the starting lineup.

Mathys Tel failed to seize a rare opportunity for Spurs

The inclusion of Mathys Tel on Saturday was a surprising decision, but it does make sense considering the French forward has not been selected in the Champions League squad.

Tel started as a striker, the position he was originally supposed to play when he first joined the club on loan. He failed to land a shot on target after 80 minutes on the pitch and was replaced by Wilson Odobert.

Despite frequently scoring goals for France U21s, Tel has been unable to bring that form to Tottenham. Perhaps at this point in time, the Premier League is simply too great a challenge. There is plenty of time for Tel to develop into a fine player, but it is unlikely he will get many minutes this season unless he starts showing the quality we are yet to see.

Brennan Johnson was benched by Thomas Frank

The all-round displays of Brennan Johnson have left much to be desired, but he is still a good goalscorer. The Welshman has already found the back of the net twice this season.

However, Frank made the decision to leave Johnson out of his squad against West Ham and his team were no worse off as a result. Simons and Sarr both made registered goal contributions, while Mohammed Kudus impressed again with his dribbling.

Johnson seemed to have found a first-team safe spot in the left wing position, but Simons could threaten that if Frank decides to keep playing him there. He will have to show he is capable of helping the team as a whole and actively affecting the game, rather than just popping up every now and then to score a goal.

Tottenham Hotspur delivered a dominant display away at the London Stadium to emerge 3-0 winners against 10-man West Ham, and they have subsequently shot up the prediction table of Opta’s Supercomputer.

Spurs needed a statement performance following their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth before the international break, and Thomas Frank certainly got the response he would have wanted from his players.

The first half was a cagey affair, with little to separate the sides, but the game opened up after Pape Sarr headed in Tottenham’s first goal from a corner kick.

A sending off soon followed for Thomas Soucek after a dangerous tackle on Joao Palhinha, and it was one-way traffic after that, with Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven finding the back of the net to add some gloss to the scoreline.

How Tottenham’s win over West Ham has affected Opta’s prediction table

Spurs Web has been tracking the prediction table of Opta’s Supercomputer, which, before the start of the season, predicted that Spurs would finish in 14th place, collecting an estimated 47.92 points.

Those predictions have been seesawing with each result, but after Tottenham registered their third win in four matches, the Lilywhites have now shot up the table.

According to Opta’s algorithm, Spurs are now predicted to finish in eighth place, with an estimated 55.92 points.

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The data analysis platform now gives the North London side a 16.61 per cent chance of qualifying for the Champions League, which is up considerably from the start of the season.

Tottenham’s defensive record is a huge positive

What will please Frank the most about the win is that his side managed to keep yet another clean sheet – their third in four league matches.

Tottenham now have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, alongside Arsenal, having conceded just one goal in four games.

That is a huge turnaround, as this is a side which conceded 65 goals in the Premier League last term under Ange Postecoglou, albeit with their two first-choice centre-backs missing significant chunks of the season.

Cristian Romero has made it clear that not even Lionel Messi will distract him from winning more silverware with Tottenham Hotspur, with the defender insisting his focus is firmly on delivering more silverware for the club.

The season is still in its early stages, and Tottenham Hotspur find themselves with everything to play for across multiple competitions.

Thomas Frank’s side are preparing to battle on four fronts with the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup all offering opportunities for silverware.

Having lifted the Europa League last season, there is an appetite around the club to build further success and add more trophies to the cabinet.

Beyond club football, though, there is also an international dimension for several Tottenham players, as the 2026 World Cup looms large on the horizon.

Cristian Romero speaks on Lionel Messi and Argentina

Tottenham’s squad is packed with internationals who are likely to be involved in next summer’s World Cup, and Cristian Romero is very much expected to play a central role as Argentina look to defend their crown.

The competition could mark the final World Cup for Lionel Messi, yet Romero has made it clear that his head remains with Tottenham, even though he is hopeful of seeing his compatriot feature.

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Speaking to Tottenham’s official channels, when asked if Messi will feature in the 2026 World Cup, Romero said: “I think if he is fit, he could easily take part. He is the biggest player in history.

“I love having him as a team-mate and sharing moments with him. I think he will be right for the World Cup. My head is focussed on the next game though (Villarreal). It is all about concentrating on Tottenham and making sure we get a win tomorrow.”

Romero eyes more silverware with Spurs

Romero must be encouraged by the strong start to the season under Thomas Frank, with Tottenham winning three of their opening four league fixtures and sitting just three points behind Liverpool at the top of the table.

Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of the structure now in place at the club and his belief that Spurs can continue to grow.

Introducing his view on the project, Romero said: “I always want the best for the Club. I see a structure that is really positive and in one we can really grow.

“I see a Club with great organisation and with a manager that is showing real positivity in the short time he has been with us. Our heads are all focussed on tomorrow night’s game.”

When asked what success means for him and Tottenham, the Argentine defender underlined the ambition within the squad.

He added, “You compete at the highest level to win. It would be easy to sit here and say we want to win everything in front of us but you have to be realistic. We have a great group and a great manager. We feel we can achieve this season. It would be amazing if we could lift another trophy, for us and the fans.”

Thomas Frank has provided a fitness update on his Tottenham Hotspur squad ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase tie against Villarreal.

In a little over 72 hours after their Premier League fixture against West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur are set to return to action, this time under the bright lights of the UEFA Champions League.

It has been a long two-year wait for the north London side, who last featured in Europe’s top competition back in 2022/23, when their run ended in the round of 16.

For Thomas Frank, Tottenham’s tie against Villarreal will be his Champions League debut, representing a significant moment in his career, and although he will want to lead Spurs deep into the competition, ensuring a winning start against Villarreal will be his immediate priority.

The Europa League winners head into this opening European fixture with a handful of injury concerns, as several familiar names remain unavailable. Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai, James Maddison and Radu Dragusin are all sidelined.

However, those absences will not weigh heavily on Frank’s plans for the night, given that none of those players were included in the Dane’s 22-man Champions League squad.

Mathys Tel is another who misses out, having also been left out of the squad, but there is a possibility that loan signing Randal Kolo Muani could make his Tottenham debut, with the striker pushing for involvement after being an unused substitute against West Ham at the weekend.

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Dominic Solanke remains sidelined with an ankle issue, and Frank has now provided a fitness update on his squad ahead of Tuesday’s tie with Villarreal.

Speaking to the club’s official channels, Frank said: “Dom is taking steps in the right directions. He is not ready to be involved tomorrow.

“Randal is ready. How many minutes? He can play 90 minutes but can he play at the intensity. He is available and ready though.”