Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League and their 2025/26 campaign starts at home to Villarreal on September 16.
Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League final rankings last season, Spurs’ night of glory in the UEFA Europa League final in May secured a backdoor route into the UCL.
Spurs have impressed under new boss Thomas Frank, with three wins from their first four league games and just one goal conceded. They enjoyed a routine victory over West Ham at the weekend as new signing Xavi Simons made his debut.
Visitors Villarreal have looked solid in the opening weeks of the new La Liga season, with just one defeat in five, and they are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2021/22.
MORE: Champions League fixtures 2025/26: Matchday schedule, results for UCL games this season
Tottenham vs. Villarreal lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Frank is expected to shuffle the pack a little following the win at 10-man West Ham. Italy international Destiny Udogie has failed to supplant Djed Spence at left-back. Richarlison starts as the focal point of Spurs’ attack, with loan signing Randal Kolo Muani on the bench.
Mathys Tel was left off the Tottenham roster for European football, and thus cannot appear in any league-phase match, although he could be brought into the fold should they reach the knockout stage.
Dominic Solanke is working his way back from an ankle injury and not yet ready to return, while the same is true for Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin, and James Maddison is out with a torn ACL.
Tottenham starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Vicario (GK) — 23. Porro, 17. Romero, 37. van de Ven, 24. Spence — 29. Sarr, 30. Bentancur, 15. Bergvall — 20. Kudus, 9. Richarlison, 7. Simons
Injured: Maddison (ACL), Kulusevski (knee), Solanke (ankle), Bissouma (muscle), Dragusin (knee, doubt), Takai (foot)
Suspended: None
Marcelino rested several key players for Villarreal’s 2-0 La Liga defeat at Atletico Madrid and he will recall some of his big names for the trip to North London.
Ex-Chelsea man Renato Veiga starts at the back, paired with former Tottenham player Juan Foyth in the XI, while former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey must accept a spot on the bench against his former North London rivals.
Villarreal starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Luiz Junior (GK) — 15. Mourino, 8. Foyth, 12. Veiga, 23. Cardona — 19. Pepe, 18. Gueye, 14. Comesana, 17. Buchanan — 9. Mikautadze, 22. A. Perez.
Injured: Cabanes (ACL), Costa (ACL), Kambwala (hamstring)
Suspended: None
Tottenham vs. Villarreal match details
- Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 5 a.m. AEST (Sep. 17)
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase Matchday 1
- Referee: Rade Obrenovic (SVN)
- VAR: Alen Borosak (SVN)
