Tottenham Hotspur began their Champions League campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal, thanks to a nightmare mistake from goalkeeper Luiz Júnior. It was a tense evening under the lights as Spurs, managed by Thomas Frank in his first elite European outing, struggled to assert themselves but ultimately held on for three points.
The decisive moment came early when Lucas Bergvall whipped in a low cross from the right, aimed at Richarlison. It should have been a routine collection for Luiz Júnior, but the Villarreal goalkeeper inexplicably fumbled, pushing the ball into his own net. The bizarre error proved decisive in a match of few clear chances.
Villarreal responded well, stabilising after the early setback. Nicolas Pépé, booed by Spurs fans for his Arsenal past, turned in a lively performance, threatening with direct runs and incisive passes. He twice went close in the first half, including creating a golden chance for Tajon Buchanan, who fired wide. Spurs managed only one shot on target before the interval, a low effort from Pape Matar Sarr.
The second half saw Tottenham retreat deeper, their passing slack as Villarreal pressed forward. Referee Rade Obrenovic found himself at the centre of controversy, sparing Xavi Simons a second yellow card for a foul on Pépé and later showing leniency to Micky van de Ven after he bundled over Georges Mikautadze on the edge of the area. Villarreal were incensed, believing both incidents warranted dismissals.
As the tension grew, Tottenham leaned heavily on Cristian Romero and Van de Ven to repel Villarreal’s attacks. Pépé remained the visitors’ most dangerous outlet, flashing shots wide and drawing fouls in dangerous areas. Marcelino’s side created half-chances but lacked a cutting edge, with their protests about officiating dominating the post-match narrative.
For Spurs, relief was the overriding emotion at the final whistle. It was their fourth clean sheet in five matches, though the performance betrayed nerves. Questions remain about whether Frank’s pragmatic approach can carry the team deeper into Europe, but for now, the points matter most.
