Tottenham edged Villarreal 1-0 in a lackluster Champions League match, thanks to a Luiz Junior own goal. Despite the early lead, Tottenham struggled to impress, while Villarreal failed to register a shot on target. Pedro Porro stood out amidst a toothless team performance on both sides.
Tottenham Hotspur secured a fortunate 1-0 victory against Villarreal in their Champions League group stage opener, thanks to a calamitous own goal from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior. The match, played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, saw Thomas Frank celebrate his first Champions League match as a coach with an unexpected win.
The decisive moment arrived just four minutes into the game. A seemingly harmless cross from Lucas Bergvall was misjudged by Luiz Junior, who inexplicably bundled the ball into his own net. The early goal provided Tottenham with a significant advantage, albeit in an underwhelming manner.
Despite the early lead, Tottenham struggled to capitalize and failed to assert their dominance. The match lacked the spark and intensity expected of a Champions League encounter, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Villarreal, who had a poor record against English teams in the Champions League, tried to respond but lacked the cutting edge to trouble the Tottenham defense.
The second half saw Villarreal emerge with renewed determination, pressing higher and creating more attacking opportunities. However, their efforts were ultimately fruitless, as they failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire match. Tottenham, on the other hand, seemed content to sit back and defend their slender lead, rarely threatening the Villarreal goal.
Villarreal's best chance to equalize came late in the game when Micky van de Ven clumsily fouled substitute Georges Mikautadze on the edge of the penalty area in the 84th minute. The resulting free-kick was taken by former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, but his effort sailed harmlessly wide of Guglielmo Vicario’s post, much to the relief of Van de Ven and the Tottenham faithful.
The match was a tale of two toothless teams, with both sides struggling to create meaningful attacks. Tottenham's nine attempts were the lowest for any team across Tuesday’s Champions League matches, and the game featured only one shot on target from both teams combined. This statistic highlights the lack of quality and creativity on display, making the own goal even more decisive.
This game joins a very short list. It is only the second Champions League match on record involving a Premier League or LaLiga team to have one or fewer shots on target, the first being Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Sparta Prague in November 2003.
Historically, Tottenham have struggled in their opening Champions League matches, winning only two of their seven such games. Both victories came when they played their opening game at home: a 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in 2017-18 and a 2-0 win over Marseille in 2022-23. This win adds to that positive home record.
Amidst a generally lackluster team performance, Pedro Porro stood out for Tottenham. He recorded the most final third entries (14) and passes in the final third (20) of any player on the pitch. His contributions were not limited to attack, as he also finished joint-highest for clearances (four) and total crosses (four), showcasing his versatility and commitment.
Starting our Champions League campaign with a win! pic.twitter.com/kVEUXjXXnL
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2025