Champions League Matchday 1: Tottenham vs Villarreal facts
Friday, September 12, 2025
Article summary
Previous meetings, club facts and key stats ahead of the UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 game.
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Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League pits last season's UEFA Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur against their 2020/21 predecessors Villarreal.
Last match
This is the first European match between the teams.
Tottenham have won only two of their 14 games against Spanish teams (D5 L7) – including only one of seven at home (D2 L4).
Having been victorious in their first three games against Premier League opponents, Villarreal have won only two of their subsequent 20 (D9 L9). They have one victory and six defeats from their ten matches in England.
Spurs are making their seventh appearance in the Champions League proper and a sixth in ten seasons. Their last four participations have all stretched into the knockout rounds, three ending in the round of 16 with the exception their run to the 2018/19 final.
A team coached by Ange Postecoglou claimed Spurs' third UEFA Cup/Europa League in 2024/25, a Brennan Johnson goal enough to defeat Manchester United in an all-English final in Bilbao. It was Tottenham's first trophy since 2008 and followed their UEFA Cup triumphs in 1972 and 1984.
Spurs lost 3-4 on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain after a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Super Cup on 13 August.
Tottenham won 2-0 at home against Marseille on Matchday 1 of their last Champions League campaign in 2022/23.
Villarreal are in the Champions League for the fifth time and a first since 2021/22, when they equalled their best run by reaching the semi-finals.
The Spanish side were not involved in European competition in 2024/25; their most recent campaign was a run to the 2023/24 Europa League round of 16.
The Yellow Submarine have never won on Champions League Matchday 1 (D3 L1).
Key stats
Villarreal defender Juan Foyth made 16 Premier League appearances for Tottenham between 2017 and joining the Spanish side in 2020.
Tottenham have lost only one of their last 12 European games (W7 D4).
Spurs are unbeaten in 20 home European matches (W16 D4).
The Lilywhites have scored in 15 of their last 16 European games.
Villarreal have won five of their last seven European matches (D1 L1).
The Spanish side have won three of their last four Champions League group stage/league phase fixtures (L1).
Villarreal have won their last two away Champions League group stage/league phase matches.