Tottenham v Villarreal: Champions League – live

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Tottenham make two changes to the side that started the 3-0 Premier League win at West Ham. Rodrigo Bentancur replaces João Palhinha in midfield, the latter dropping to the bench. Meanwhile Mathys Tel isn’t in Tottenham’s Champions League squad, so his place up front is taken by Richarlison. Xavi Simons makes his home debut.

Villarreal are captained by defender Juan Foyth, who made 16 Premier League appearances for Spurs between 2017 and 2020. The Yellow Submarine have won five of their last seven European fixtures, and their last two away games in the Champions League group/league phase. Manor Solomon, on loan from Spurs, is eligible to face his parent club and is on the bench.

The teams

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Richarlison, Simons.
Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Danso, Joao Palhinha, Udogie, Gray, Johnson, Odobert, Davies, Muani, Scarlett, Byfield.

Villarreal: Junior, Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona, Buchanan, Comesana, Gueye, Pepe, Mikautadze, Perez.
Subs: Navarro, Pedraza, Oluwaseyi, Moleiro, Partey, Akhomach, Parejo, Solomon, Marin, Conde, Tenas, Altimira.

Referee: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia).

Villarreal have made it to the semi-finals twice in their short European history. (They only made their continental debut in 2002.) On both occasions English opposition did for them: Arsenal beat them in 2006, while Liverpool survived a second-leg scare in 2022.

Spurs have been at it a whole lot longer, and reached the semi-finals on debut in 1962, losing out to Eusébio’s Benfica. They’ve made it as far as the final on one occasion, in 2019, but let’s not dwell on their no-show against Liverpool; instead let’s reminisce about the performance that got them there, that comeback against Ajax. Erik ten Hag was never quite the same once Lucas Moura was finished with him.

Preamble

Tottenham Hotspur’s bonus prize for winning last season’s Europa League begins here. They open their Champions League campaign against the 2021 Europa League winners Villarreal. The two clubs can share their war stories of seeing off Manchester United later, but for now there’s a match to be played. The first meeting of the pair kicks off at 8pm UK time. It’s on!