Victory in Europe, again. Not quite amid jubilant scenes akin to Bilbao in May but the same outcome, a not-entirely convincing 1-0 win for Tottenham and a goal laced with terrific good fortune.
In the Europa League final, it was Brennan Johnson claiming the credit as the ball cannoned into Manchester United’s net.
Here, there was not a Spurs player in the frame as Villarreal’s Brazilian goalkeeper Luiz Junior pushed the ball into his own goal in the fourth minute.
It was as freakish as it was decisive, and Thomas Frank will happily bank that and move on from his first outing in the Champions League.
His team survived scares in the second half. Chief among them a foul by Micky van de Ven on Georges Mikautadze in the closing minutes, felling Villarreal’s Georgia forward just outside the penalty area.
Van de Ven, his team’s best player on the night, might have been sent off by another referee but he survived with a yellow card against the Yellow Submarine, who issued a reminder to their hosts of the step up in quality.
Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal came courtesy of this own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior
Junior could only look on in horror as his mistake gifted Spurs the lead and the eventual victory
Tottenham players celebrate after scoring the opening goal of their Champions League season
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was built for Champions League football as we have been reminded often in the days since Daniel Levy was ousted as chairman. And it was strange to see others in the seat has occupied since it opened in 2019.
Vivienne and Charles Lewis, the two children of billionaire patriarch Joe Lewis were there, along with the new non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.
This is the power base for the club going forward. The Lewis family promise to take more of an interest in their football club and here was a good early lesson. It will be tense and nerve-wracking at times and Spurs have been absent for two years from this elite level.
Frank though could not have asked for a more generous introduction to the competition as his team took an early lead. Lucas Bergvall fizzed in a low cross from the Spurs right and Junior contrived somehow to push it into his own net.
Richarlison was sliding in, but it would be wrong to pretend there was any real pressure on the Brazilian goalkeeper, who dived out at the near post, pressed two hands down on top of the ball and watched in horror as it squirted from his grasp and spun over the goal line.
Frank seemed almost too embarrassed to celebrate, instinctively punching two fists into the air and then moving them gently to the back of his head to smooth his hair.
The rest of the home crowd were not so generous, with roars of collective laughter and dramatic whoops as the comical error was replayed on the big screens time and again. Then bursting into ironic applause when the ball next came Luiz’s penalty area.
Frank has judged most things well since taking over from Ange Postecoglou but you can’t beat a stroke of good fortune to settle the nerves on a big.
Their elation contrasted with Villarreal’s dejection after a calamitous own goal from Junior
Spurs boss Thomas Frank (centre) will take the fortuitous win on his Champions League debut
And this was a big night, because it takes the Dane into unknown territory after his move across London from Brentford, where there was no European football to interfere with his recovery routine and tactical planning.
The onset of this Champions League campaign marks the point when his time on the training pitch becomes heavily reduced and the mental and physical strain on his players increases.
As it stands at present, he has the depth to tweak his team as he likes to do with Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur in for Palhinha and Mathys Tel.
Xavi Simons marked his home debut with a bright start and a whistling the first shot of the game over from 25 yards.
Villarreal, currently fifth in Spain’s LaLiga, the same place they finished last season, settled confidently despite the early setback.
Nicolas Pepe, the target for boos during the early phase of the game for his Arsenal past, sparkled throughout. He went close to scoring a quickfire equaliser with a low curling shot deflected wide by Van de Ven.
And Tajon Buchanan should have done better with a chance created by Pepe after a rare mistake at the back by Cristian Romero as the visitors counter attacked.
Without Palhinha shielding the back four, Spurs did not look as secure in defence as they have in the Premier League but carried a threat going forward. Djed Spence and Simons have the makings of a good understanding on the left and Bergvall sparkled.
Bentancur and Richarlison also went close before the interval. Pape Matar Sarr forced a save with what proved to be the only shot on target in the entire game, and there were two strong claims for penalties, both involving Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye.
Xavi Simons made his home debut, but was fortunate to avoid a second yellow for this tackle
Ex-Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe was routinely jeered by Spurs fans but came close to scoring
The first was a tap on a heel to fell Richarlison and the second when Bergvall flicked the ball up against a hand. Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic and his VAR team were unmoved.
Villarreal improved again in the second half, hustling Frank’s team into a series of mistakes as they played out at the back, which invited pressure. Juan Foyth, who spent four years as a Spurs player, glanced a header wide and Pepe fizzed another effort inches wide.
Simons was fortunate to escape a second yellow card. His trip on Pepe stopped a promising counterattack sparking fury on the Villarreal bench. Marcelino was booked and Frank took the cue and replaced Simons.
He threw on Randal Kolo Muani for a debut late in the game. And with an element of luck and that wipe-out challenge by Van de Ven on Mikautadze, Tottenham preserved their clean sheet and ensured a winning start.
