Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Villarreal Player Ratings: Micky van de Ven Rated 8/10 as Spurs Narrowly Overcome Villarreal

On a gripping Champions League night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs edged past Villarreal with a narrow 1-0 win in a match defined by tension, grit, and a moment of cruel misfortune. An early own goal by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior — a bizarre mishap in just the fourth minute — proved to be the difference in an otherwise tightly contested European clash.

From that point on, Tottenham leaned into a disciplined, defensive display, soaking up pressure and threatening on the break. Villarreal fought hard for a way back, carving out chances through Juan Foyth and Nicolas Pépé, but the home side held firm, with Micky van de Ven delivering a commanding performance at the heart of the backline.

In the end, it was a night where Spurs ground out victory not with attacking flair, but with sheer defensive resolve — a result that may not have dazzled, but certainly delivered in drama. Here are Sportsdunia's Tottenham Hotspur vs Villarreal Player Ratings:

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Goalkeeper

Guglielmo Vicario - 7.0: A relatively quiet night for the Spurs keeper, but he did everything required of him. What stood out to us was his composure and excellent distribution, completing 85% of his passes. He made a good high claim and a crucial punch to relieve pressure. An error did lead to a shot, which takes a little shine off, but he was reliable when called upon and commanded his box well. A solid performance.

Defenders

Pedro Porro - 7.5: A very busy and effective performance from the right-back. He was a constant outlet, with 86 touches and 14 passes into the final third showing his attacking intent. Defensively, he was sound, winning two tackles and making four clearances. We were impressed with his energy up and down the flank, providing both defensive cover and an attacking threat. He lost possession a few times, but his overall contribution was hugely positive.

Cristian Romero - 6.5: A mixed bag from the captain. He was strong in the duel, winning most of his battles, and his passing was tidy as usual. However, a couple of errors leading to shots were uncharacteristic and put his team under needless pressure. He made some important clearances, but from our perspective, he seemed a little off his best and was dribbled past twice. Not a bad game, but not his usual commanding self.

Micky van de Ven - 8.0: The highest-rated player on the pitch and our clear man of the match. An absolute monster at the back. He seemed to be everywhere, racking up an incredible 11 ball recoveries and making a vital last-man tackle. His pace was a huge asset, allowing Spurs to play a high line. His distribution was also top-notch, with a 93% pass accuracy. The yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect defensive display.

Djed Spence - 7.0: A really promising outing before being substituted. He was defensively solid, winning six of his eight duels and showing great recovery pace. Going forward, he attempted five dribbles and completed three, causing problems for the opposition. He created a key pass and looked confident on the ball. It was a surprise to see him taken off, as he was having a very good game.

Midfielders

Lucas Bergvall - 6.0: A somewhat frustrating night for the young midfielder. He showed flashes of his talent with some driving runs, but his final product was lacking. He got into good positions and had two shots, but couldn't find the target with one and had the other blocked. What stood out to us was how easily he was bypassed at times, being dribbled past twice. He worked hard but struggled to impose himself on the game.

Pape Matar Sarr - 6.5: A tidy if unspectacular performance in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with a decent pass completion rate and forced a good save with his only shot on target. He was a willing runner but didn't dominate his area, winning only one of his two duels before being substituted. A functional performance that helped maintain the team's structure without being particularly eye-catching.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 7.0: The engine in the Spurs midfield. He was tenacious and intelligent, breaking up play effectively with eight ball recoveries and a 100% tackle success rate. He was also composed in possession, linking defense and attack with a high pass accuracy. He even got forward to have a couple of shots. We noticed his work rate was immense throughout the 90 minutes, providing a crucial screen for the defense.

Forwards

Xavi Simons - 6.0: A night of 'what ifs' for Simons. He was lively and always looking to make things happen, but his end product let him down. He missed the target with both his shots and lost possession 16 times, which is far too high. The yellow card for a clumsy foul summed up his frustrating evening. He drew a couple of fouls and made some key interceptions, but you expect more quality in the final third from a player of his talent.

Richarlison - 6.0: A typically combative display, but very little attacking threat. He won an impressive seven duels and made four clearances, highlighting his defensive work rate. However, with just three accurate passes all game and a 38% pass accuracy, his contribution in possession was minimal. He got a yellow card and was caught offside, struggling to get involved where it mattered most. A lot of effort for very little reward.

Mohammed Kudus - 6.5: Kudus was neat and tidy on the ball, linking up play with an 86% pass accuracy. He delivered a couple of dangerous crosses and recovered the ball six times. However, for a player in the front line, he was surprisingly passive. Just one blocked shot in 90 minutes isn't enough of a goal threat. From our perspective, he needed to be more selfish and take more risks to break down the Villarreal defense.

Substitutes

João Palhinha, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, Randal Kolo Muani, Kevin Danso: All came on too late to make a significant impact on the game and are therefore not rated.

Manager

T. Frank - 7.0: His game plan worked to perfection. Getting the early goal allowed his team to sit in a compact shape and frustrate Villarreal. The defensive organization was excellent, and the substitutions were made to see the game out. While it wasn't pretty, it was effective, and securing a 1-0 win in the Champions League is all that matters. A pragmatic and successful evening's work.

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper

Luiz Júnior - 5.0: A nightmare evening for the goalkeeper. The disastrous own goal in the 4th minute defined the entire match and put his team on the back foot immediately. It was a moment of pure misfortune, but one that a keeper at this level cannot afford. He made a couple of saves later on, but the damage was already done. An error leading directly to a goal is the worst possible outcome for a goalkeeper.

Defenders

Juan Foyth - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game from the former Spurs man. He led his team with seven clearances and was tidy in possession. He even ventured forward, having three shots, though none troubled the keeper. He did lose a few duels and committed a couple of fouls, but he was a commanding presence for the most part. He'll be disappointed to have been on the losing side on his return to London.

Renato Veiga - 5.5: A difficult night for the centre-back. He struggled to contain the Spurs attack, committing an error that led to a shot and picking up a yellow card. His distribution was okay, but he looked shaky at times and lost all of his aerial duels. Six clearances show he was in the thick of the action, but he seemed a step off the pace. A tough learning experience.

Santiago Mouriño - 7.0: A really impressive defensive display despite the result. He was a rock at the back, making a massive eight clearances and four interceptions. He was aggressive and strong, winning eight of his 15 duels and drawing three fouls. The yellow card was a result of his all-action style. We felt he was one of Villarreal's best players, constantly thwarting attacks and showing great determination.

Sergi Cardona - 6.0: A decent shift from the left-back before his substitution. He made three clearances and two successful tackles. However, he struggled against the pace and trickery of the Spurs wingers and was dribbled past twice. He didn't offer much going forward, and it wasn't a surprise to see him replaced as Villarreal chased the game.

Midfielders

Pape Gueye - 7.5: A fantastic all-around midfield performance. He was a dominant force, winning six of seven duels and making three tackles and three interceptions. From our perspective, he controlled the midfield for large spells. His passing was progressive, and he recovered the ball six times. It’s a shame he was on the losing team, as his individual performance was top-class and he deserved more.

Santi Comesaña - 5.5: He really struggled to get a foothold in the game. He was dribbled past four times, which is a shocking statistic for a central midfielder. Winning only two of his nine duels shows he was second-best in most contests. He picked up a yellow card and looked overwhelmed by the pace of the game before being subbed. A night to forget.

Nicolas Pépé - 6.5: A constant threat but lacked the final product. He took four shots, but two were blocked and two went off target. He created two key passes and was always willing to take players on. However, losing the ball 14 times shows a lack of care in possession. He was a handful, but his decision-making in crucial moments let him and his team down.

Tajon Buchanan - 6.0: Lots of energy and running, but little impact on the game. He got into some good positions but his final ball was poor, failing to complete a single cross. He lost possession 12 times in his 82 minutes on the pitch. He worked hard defensively but offered very little to unlock the Spurs defence. A willing runner who lacked the required quality.

Forwards

Georges Mikautadze - 6.0: A very quiet and isolated figure up front. He had just 19 touches in 90 minutes, which tells its own story. He created one key pass but otherwise struggled to get involved, losing four of his five duels. It's tough being a lone striker in a game like this, but he was completely anonymous for long periods. Not the impact Villarreal needed from their forward.

Ayoze Pérez - 6.5: Looked like one of the few Villarreal players who could make something happen. He drew four fouls, showing how tricky he was to handle. He was tenacious, winning seven duels and making two successful tackles. Like others, his final product was missing, but his effort and skill were evident before he was substituted. A lively and combative performance.

Substitutes

Alfonso Pedraza, Ilias Akhomach, Thomas Partey, Dani Parejo, Alberto Moleiro: Brought on to change the game but were unable to find the breakthrough against a resolute Spurs defence. Not rated.

Manager

M. García Toral - 6.5: It's hard to fault his tactics. His team was undone by a freak own goal, not a tactical error. They responded well, created chances, and were arguably the better side for portions of the second half. His substitutions were positive and aimed at getting an equalizer. On another day, his team could easily have gotten a draw or even a win. An unfortunate result for a decent performance.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Micky van de Ven