Spurs edged past Villarreal with a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, ensuring their Champions League campaign began on the right note.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal:
Three points on the board for Tottenham
It might not have been the prettiest of ties for Tottenham Hotspur in their opening Champions League fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but it was enough to get the job done.
A 1-0 win, with Villarreal’s goalkeeper arguably Spurs’ standout player, is not scintillating football, but that would matter little to Frank and his squad.
The Champions League is unforgiving, and it rarely rewards style without substance, so if Tottenham are to progress deep into this competition, then they will need to master the art of winning ugly, which at times requires defending a slender lead and grinding out results, exactly as they did here.
Last season, 11 points proved enough for a play-off spot while 16 secured an automatic place in the knockouts, and with three points now on the board, Tottenham have made the ideal start.
Tottenham looked flat after a bright start
While it was important to open with a win, there will be concerns that Frank will want to iron out quickly.
Tottenham began the contest full of energy, pressing high and moving the ball with purpose, and the early own goal inside five minutes provided the perfect cushion to settle any nerves.
However, after the half-hour mark, the intensity dropped dramatically, with careless passing and sloppy touches allowing Villarreal back into the game.
Cristian Romero gave the ball away multiple times early in the second half, inviting pressure that could have been costly, while Mohammed Kudus lacked precision with his final ball, and Richarlison struggled to hold up play, with his involvement in build-up phases breaking down too often.
Against stronger, more clinical opposition, Tottenham may not have been so fortunate, and this flat spell is something Frank must quickly address.
Pape Matar Sarr starts at number 10 as Simons plays wide
There was plenty of anticipation about where Xavi Simons might be deployed, with many expecting him to line up centrally in the number ten role, perhaps with Brennan Johnson operating from the left.
Instead, Frank once again opted to start Simons wide on the left, leaving Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall with the creative duties through the middle.
It leaves the question of whether Simons has truly been brought in to play as a ten, or if Frank is simply waiting for the right moment to unleash him centrally, and for now, it seems patience will be required.
The Dutchman produced a much sharper display today than in his Premier League debut at West Ham United, showing glimpses of his quality, though he did ride his luck with a reckless second-half challenge that could easily have brought him a second yellow card. Baby steps for now, but progress is clear.
Randal Kolo Muani makes his Tottenham debut
Frank hinted before the tie that Randal Kolo Muani was close to full match sharpness, but a starting berth never looked likely.
Richarlison led the line for most of the evening before Muani was introduced late on, marking his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt.
His involvement was minimal, with a yellow card the main contribution, but with his debut now out of the way, greater involvement will surely follow in the coming weeks.
Stunning tifo celebrates Tottenham tradition
Nights like this are exactly what Tottenham fans have been craving: Champions League football back under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a two-year absence.
Supporters made sure to mark the occasion with a striking tifo unveiled before kick-off, paying homage to the club’s old badge, a fitting nod to tradition as Spurs embarked on another European adventure.
Thanks must once again go to THST Flags for organising the display, just as they did for the Europa League semi-final last season.
That said, there were still pockets of empty seats across the stadium, likely a consequence of ticket prices that remain a major barrier for many supporters.
If Spurs are to make their home ground an intimidating European fortress, then ensuring the stands are packed out will be vital, yet the club’s pricing policy is currently making that far from straightforward.