Spurs delight in return to Europe's high table but are grateful for Villareal's match-winning gift
- By Yann Tear at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Champions League Group Stage
Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1 Luiz Junior og 4
Villarreal (0) 0
They're back. With bit of a whimper, it has to be said, but it'll do for now.
An early own goal was just about enough to get the job done, though for large swathes of a poor second half, they looked like they might be punished for an indifferent display,. Thankfully for them, the Spanish visitors were unable to take advantage.
The group stage of the Champions League may not carry the gravitas of old with its diluted sense of jeopardy, but this still felt like a big step in the right direction for Spurs fans - who know they have a venue fit for such a competition.
The MC set the scene with his gentle reminder that Tottenham were the first English club to land a European trophy and that they are currently Europa League holders.
The very tops of this vast bowl had a few empty seats - as did the sparsely populated away end, but the mood was upbeat and fully engaged. No more Daniel Levy at the helm and a 3-0 win at West Ham as prelude. How could the mood not be positive?
For Thomas Frank - experiencing his first ever night of Champions League football - the evening could hardly have got off to a better start. Lucas Bergvall's charge down the right ended with Villarreal keeper Luiz Junior inexplicably scooping the ball into his own net from a prone position as he tried to prevent Richarlison from putting away the Swedes' cross.
Home fans had fun booing former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe, but the striker almost got the Spaniards back on level terms with a curling effort deflected just wide, then set up Tajon Buchanan for a clear chance that was put wide when it was begging to be slammed past Guglielmo Vicario.
He almost scored at the start of the second half too, taking players on and sliding a ball that flew low past the far post and hit a late free-kick just wide.
Without looking earth-shattering, Spurs promised more, with Xavi Simons lively on his home debut, shooting just over early on, Pape Sarr forcing Junior into a save and Richarlison having a close-range shot turned into the side-netting.
But they were very sloppy as the second half unfolded, almost inviting the visitors a way back into the game and Simons almost earned himself a second yellow card for a poorly timed challenge. Mickey van de Ven was also forced to take a yellow for baulking Georges Mikautadze as he tore into the penalty area late on. The foul was just outside the box.
The catcalls aimed at Pepe were nothing compared to those aimed at second half sub Thomas Partey - a double felon in the eyes of home fans for once being a Gunner but also one who is due to face rape and sex assault charges in court.
Spurs: (4-3-3) Vicario - Pedro Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence (Udogie 69) - Sarr (Palhinha 69), Bentancur, Bergvall (Danso 90) - Kudus, Richarlison (Kolo Muani 77), Simons (Johnson 77)
Yellow Submarines: (4-4-2) Luiz Junior - Mourino, Foyth, Renato Veiga, Cardona (Akhomach 75) - Pepe, Comesana (Partey 78), Gueye (Parejo 78), Buchanan (Moleiro 82) - Ayoze Perez (Pedraza 75), Mikautadze
Attendance: 54,755
