It was Spurs' maiden Champions League success following late 2022.
Key Points
Spurs win on reappearing to the top European competition
Their opponents shot-stopper the keeper fumbles the ball into his net
Victory represents the coach's first Champions League match in charge
The Tottenham boss enjoyed a positive European debut thanks to a costly mistake by their rivals shot-stopper Luiz Junior.
Uncontested, the keeper fumbled a Spurs player's ball into his own net, handing Tottenham a ideal start.
This was former Brentford manager Frank's first match in the competition, but the team faced scares at moments before the half.
A crucial intervention by Micky van de Ven denied one-time Arsenal player Pepe from scoring, while Buchanan fired a shot off target.
However an excellent intervention by Junior prevented Tottenham from getting a another when he blocked Sarr's strike.
Villarreal came on strong in the second stanza, but Tottenham held strong to thwart them.
The Brazilian could have been more clinical with a headed chance as Tottenham sought a second goal, but ultimately it was unnecessary.
Breakdown: The Team Unconvincing but Backline Shines
It proved to be the victory Spurs aimed for on their reappearance to the European stage, but it was hardly a flawless display.
The keeper's unfortunate blunder gave the home crowd excited and could have been the platform for a strong performance, but that failed to materialise.
Spurs' opening to the term has been impressive, with notable successes against one opponent and Manchester City, but there was also a concerning display in a setback to Bournemouth.
They showed more comparisons to that fixture with some poor phases of play and sloppy passes whenever they advanced.
Nevertheless, their defensive work was strong with one player and another player making key tackles, particularly in the final period.
Victory means the club are now unbeaten in their last 21 matches at home in continental competitions.
Star Performer
Jersey: 37 Van de Ven
Average Rating: 7.49
Connected Subjects
- UEFA Competitions
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Soccer
