Follow live coverage of six games on opening night of Champions League
Calamitous own goal puts Tottenham 1-0 up against Villarreal
Watch BBC Radio 5 Live Champions League Final Score at top of page, including commentary from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Real Madrid drawing 1-1 at home to Marseille as Alexander-Arnold off injured
Arsenal beat Athletic Club 2-0 as subs Martinelli & Trossard both score
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Luiz Junior (og, 4 mins)
Oh dear oh dear.
Lucas Bergvall drives down the right-hand side and whips the ball into the box looking for the advancing Richarlison.
In the end there's no need for the Brazilian striker as Luiz Junior looks like he's got the ball gathered but it slides out of his hands and rolls into the back of the net.
A howler for Villarreal, a gift for Spurs.
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham 0-0 Villarreal
Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Tottenham Hotspur stadium
Simons is not far away. Right foot, half volley, about a yard over the bar.
Tottenham 0-0 Villarreal
Xavi Simons goes for the spectacular inside the opening minute of the game.
He catches it really well on the half-volley from 25 yards out but it's over the bar.
Why not, eh?
Tottenham 0-0 Villarreal
Under way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
I think Tottenham, this season, have great strength in depth to compete on all fronts. Xavi Simons had a great debut away at West Ham.
I think it really does bode well for Thomas Frank, who always has a plan. He's very meticulous.
They could do with a really fast start in the Champions League. Getting that first win under the belt would be really big for Frank's team.
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
42% of Tottenham’s goals in the Champions League (since 1992-93) have been scored by Harry Kane or Son Heung-min (37/89). Following the departures of both, the only current Tottenham player with more than one goal for the club in the competition is Richarlison (2).
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Tottenham Hotspur stadium
If Tottenham get that first win on the board early it gives them a chance to build on it.
But they are up against a difficult opponent in Villarreal, who didn't have European football last season, but we know their pedigree. They can take a scalp or two.
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank speaking to Amazon Prime: "I'm very humble about it and feel very privileged to stand here today and get the fantastic experience [in the Champions League]. Hopefully we get the performance and the win to make it even more memorable.
"I tried to promise myself that for the first minutes I would just try to take it all in and then when the whistle goes: boom. It's game time.
"There is a lot more focus and people who are interested in how it goes at Tottenham [than at Brentford], so I am grateful for the good start but we need to keep the consistency in performances, and try to be level headed in good times and bad times."
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Tonight will be Tottenham manager Thomas Frank's first time in the dugout for a Champions League match.
Frank's only previous experience of managing in European competition came in qualifying for the Europa League, winning just three of 10 matches with Brondby (D4 L3).
While his side endured a poor season last year under Ange Postecoglou, the silver lining was winning the Europa League and therefore earning a place in this season's Champions League.
An achievement that had nothing to do with Frank but he's the one reaping the rewards.
Under Frank, Spurs have three wins from four in the Premier League.
Image source, Getty ImagesBenfica v Qarabag (20:00 BST)
Qarabag of Azerbaijan return to the Champions League for the first time in eight years where they will face two-time winners Benfica.
The Portuguese side made it to the round of 16 last season but were beaten 4-1 over two legs by Barcelona.
Image source, Getty ImagesReal Madrid v Marseille (20:00 BST)
It's hard to overlook Real Madrid when it comes to picking the Champions League winner but Los Blancos come into this campaign with Xabi Alonso at the helm.
Alonso's first European game as Real boss comes against Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille, who finished second in Ligue 1 last term.
Could be an entertaining watch.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Paul Robinson
Former Tottenham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at San Mames
Let's not underestimate the job that they've done. They played against the team with the best defensive record in La Liga last season. They were always going to be a hard team to beat at home.
The first half wasn't pretty but Arsenal dug in. The changes that they've made, the singings that they've made in the final third made the difference.
Noni Madueke was excellent the whole time down the right-hand side. Eberechi Eze never really got in the game and that forced the manager's hand. The substitutes came on and it was perfect time as the game opened up for them.
A really good start to the season for Arsenal.
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2 late goals, clean sheet and 3 points. That's how you play away from home in opening round of the champions league.
Sulaimon
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr speaking to Uefa: "Tonight represents everything for us players and the club as well. It's always a pleasure for the club and the fans to play in the Champions League.
"We work hard to keep this run going [unbeaten home run in Europe]. It is important not to lose home games in front of your own fans and we will work hard to keep it going today.
"Frank is a good manager. He has put a lot of energy into the team and me personally I like to be in this team. He is a great coach. For me he put a bit more technically [into my game], I am happy to be in this team."
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Tottenham Hotspur stadium
Tottenham have had a really good start under Thomas Frank and it would be even better if they could get a win tonight. The fixtures they've got in the Champions League are pretty ok.
Tonight it is about getting a foothold in the competition, then they have got home fames against Copenhagen and Slavia Prague, teams where you would expect them to have too much quality.
Tottenham v Villarreal (20:00 BST)
It has been 923 days since Tottenham last played in a Champions League game - a meek goalless draw against AC Milan which resulted in a 1-0 aggregate defeat during the final few weeks of Antonio Conte's reign.
Spurs' squad has been drastically overhauled during the intervening two and a half years, with the club spending more than £300m on transfers under Ange Postecoglou and successor Thomas Frank.
Of the 11 players who began against Milan in 2023, only Cristian Romero - who was sent off against the Italians - is likely to start against Villarreal.
Ben Davies is still at the club but is yet to play this season, while Dejan Kulusevski is recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Image source, Getty ImagesSo, Arsenal off to a winning start in the Champions League.
We'll bring you reaction to that as soon as we have it. For now, there's plenty more action to come this evening.
FT: Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator
That will be an Arsenal win in Bilbao! A massive win at the start of their Champions League campaign.
Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal are up and running in the Champions League. A highly satisfactory return to the Basque Country for Mikel Arteta.
Image source, Getty ImagesAthletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Paul Robinson
Former Tottenham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at San Mames
Arsenal have done really well in the latter part of this second half. It has been a very good away performance and a very good start to the Champions League.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Union Saint-Gilloise | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
3 Benfica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
9 Ajax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
15 Bodø / Glimt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
17 Club Brugge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
19 København | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
20 Galatasaray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
22 Kairat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
28 Olympiakos Piraeus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
30 Pafos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
31 Slavia Prague | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
32 Sporting CP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
33 Qarabağ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
35 PSV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Manager: Thomas Frank
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Marcelino García
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Thomas Frank
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Marcelino García
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
UEFA Champions League
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This will be the first meeting between Tottenham and Villarreal in European competition, with Spurs winning just one of their last 13 matches against Spanish opposition in major European competition (D5 L7).
Villarreal have played 14 matches against English opponents in the UEFA Champions League and are still looking for their first victory (D6 L8), while losing each of the last seven in a row. Over half of their defeats in the competition have been against English opposition (57% - 8/14).
This will be third time that Villarreal have played their opening game of a UEFA Champions League campaign against an English side (out of five seasons). The previous two were both against Manchester United and both finished 0-0, in 2005-06 and 2008-09.
Tottenham have only won their opening game of a European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign in two of their seven attempts (D2 L3). However, those two have arrived on the last two occasions where they have played their opener at home: 2-0 v Marseille in 2022-23 and 3-1 v Borussia Dortmund in 2017-18.
Villarreal’s last match in the UEFA Champions League came in the semi-finals of the 2021-22 edition, losing 2-5 on aggregate to Liverpool. The Spaniards won three of their six away games in that campaign (D1 L2), more than they managed in 14 away matches across their three previous appearances in this competition (W2 D5 L7).
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank will take charge of a team in the UEFA Champions League for the first time – in fact, his only previous experience of managing in European competition came in qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, winning just three of 10 matches with Brøndby IF (D4 L3).
42 percent of Tottenham’s goals in the UEFA Champions League (since 1992-93) have been scored by Harry Kane or Son Heung-min (37/89). Following the departures of both, the only current Tottenham player with more than one goal for the club in the competition is Richarlison (2).
Villarreal forward Georges Mikautadze has been directly involved in seven goals in eight starts in major European competition to date (four goals, three assists), with all of those coming for Lyon in the UEFA Europa League last season.
Randal Kolo Muani could feature for a fourth different team (Tottenham) in the UEFA Champions League since the start of 2022-23, having previously appeared for Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris SG and Juventus. No active Champions League player has played for as many as four different teams in this period.
Villarreal defender Juan Foyth made his UEFA Champions League debut for Tottenham back in December 2017 (v APOEL Nicosia). Indeed, the Argentinean remains the youngest player to start a home game for the club in the competition (19y 328d in that match).
