Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI vs Villarreal: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Tottenham vs Villarreal: Predicted Lineup and Team News for Champions League Opener

Tottenham step back into the glare of European football tonight, opening their Champions League campaign against Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There is a sense of anticipation in north London – not only because of the competition itself but also due to the potential debut of a late summer arrival.

Spotlight on Kolo Muani

Deadline Day signing Randal Kolo Muani is edging closer to his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt. He was on the bench during the win over West Ham but could finally be unleashed on European soil.

“Randal Kolo Muani is ready,” manager Thomas Frank confirmed. “How many minutes? They can always play more minutes than we think. If we needed him to play he could play 90 minutes, but can he play at the intensity and the level we want? He is ready and he is involved tomorrow and that is the most important thing.”

Richarlison is also in contention to lead the line, with Mathys Tel unavailable for the group stages. Frank must weigh up whether to ease Kolo Muani in or trust the Brazilian to continue his form.

Photo @SpursOfficial on X

Injuries and Selection Dilemmas

Tottenham remain without Dominic Solanke, sidelined with an ankle injury that disrupted his pre-season. The absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski also continues to shape Frank’s midfield options, while Bissouma, Dragusin and Takai are likewise ruled out.

Destiny Udogie could return at full-back, adding energy down the flank, while Rodrigo Bentancur pushes for a recall in midfield. Frank’s balancing act extends further forward, with Xavi Simons impressing in flashes but still searching for rhythm. His potential switch into a central No10 role may come at the expense of Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr – both strong performers in recent weeks.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Villarreal

Frank’s side are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Simons, Johnson; Richarlison

Kick-off and Broadcast Details

The match kicks off at 8pm BST, Tuesday 16 September 2025, under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Supporters can watch the action live via Amazon Prime.