For the first time since March 2023, Tottenham Hotspur will play in the Champions League tonight, looking to launch a European campaign with a victory.
The Lily Whiteman has taken on the clash with Villarreal in excellent form, winning three of the four Premier League matches since Thomas Frank took the reins during the offseason.
He is trying to build on the recent impressive form of clubs in Europe. He is currently running unbeaten in 20 matches, dating back to his 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa in October 2020.
Frank’s men, like Lily White, have taken on the side of Marcelino Garcia Toral, which has only been lost once in 2025/26, and this defeat has come in the weekend in a recent clash with Atletico Madrid.
But if Dane is to expand such an impressive European record against the yellow submarine, he may need to drop one player from his start 11 tonight.
Why might Frank need to drop Kudos against Villarreal?
Mohamed Kudus joined the Spurs this summer on a £55 million move from West Ham United, sought to add more quality to the offensive division of the first team.
The Ghanaians immediately influenced their new outfits on the first day of their new campaign, registering two assists in their victory over Burnley in North London.
However, in three games since then, the 25-year-old has not managed a single goal or assist, with Lucas Bergvall and others outscoring the right field.
Despite his lack of concrete success, he managed to succeed against his former employer last weekend.
It was an impressive start to life for Lily White of Kudus, but he may be dropped from the side late tonight before a meeting with Lariga’s side.
Spurs players who could become the next Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is a name for many fans around Europe and can be understood given his impressive form for both the Spurs and Real Madrid throughout his career.
The Welsman started as a left-back early in his career, but quickly moved to Winger, particularly after exhibiting with Inter Milan in the Champions League.
In 2010, Veil’s Lily White’s career was hit by life after winning a late hat trick at San Siro.
His amazing display made him as comfortable as a fan base fan and allowed him to become a consistent person on the first team side after his first few years of stop-starts in the capital.
This situation could be repeated by his fellow countryman Brennan Johnson, with the Winger having the ability to replicate success in this year’s Champions League campaign.
Labeled by one analyst as “incredible” the Welsman has scored 18 goals in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The 24-year-old has an impressive start to his 2025/26 campaign, scoring twice in his first four outings, deserving a start in the Champions League.
Despite his impressive record, he follows a similar route to success as a fellow, struggling to make an immediate impact after a £47.5 million transfer from Nottingham Forest.
Johnson was the subject of mass abuse 12 months ago, and while the attacker deactivated his social media accounts, it’s safe to say he silenced the suspicious person.
Top scorer for Spurs in PL (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
player | totalling |
1. Brennan Johnson | 11 |
2. James Madison | 9 |
=Dominique Solanke | 9 |
3. Dejan Krucevsky | 7 |
= Heung-min’s son | 7 |
4. Richarion | 4 |
5. Pope Sarle | 3 |
Statistics via FOTMOB | |
But adding a Champions League goal or two could be the perfect platform for him to solidify his position on the side and bring Frank’s men to new heights.
Droping Kudus from the starting eleven is a somewhat tough decision, but Johnson is more than worthy of a recall – especially considering his recent goalscoring lilies in 2025/26.
If the 24-year-old is comparable to the feat of Veil in Europe’s most competitive competition, he certainly has a platform to build and take over his career on new heights in North London.
