Tottenham expected lineup vs Villarreal with Thomas Frank set to make two adjustments.
A red card shown to Tomas Soucek in the 54th minute boosted Tottenham’s chances of victory, but manager Thomas Frank had concerns even before kick-off. During Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth before the international break, Dominic Solanke missed out with an ankle injury, a setback Frank later confirmed.
The striker has yet to recover, with Frank admitting ahead of the London Stadium clash that Solanke would again be unavailable. He explained:
“Everyone came back from international duty fine, which is always positive. Dom is still not available. I don’t think it will be too long, but he won’t make this game. The medical staff are doing everything possible, and I don’t think he’s far off — just not ready this week.”
That absence leaves Solanke in a race to be fit for what would be his Champions League debut, though Villarreal may come too soon. Spurs are also without Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison due to long-term injuries, limiting Frank’s attacking options.
Xavi Simons, making his debut on Saturday, impressed with the assist for the opener before being replaced by Richarlison in the 71st minute. Simons operated on the left to accommodate 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall, who rewarded his manager’s faith with a goal and an assist. Though Simons is naturally suited to a central attacking role, Bergvall thrived there and looks set to keep his starting place on Tuesday.
With Solanke sidelined, Richarlison and Mathys Tel are Frank’s striking options. Tel started at West Ham but is not in the Champions League squad, leaving Richarlison likely to lead the line against Villarreal. Meanwhile, Pape Sarr and Mohammed Kudus are combining well on the right, supported by Pedro Porro at right-back, while Djed Spence continues to impress on the opposite flank. In goal, Guglielmo Vicario is a certain starter, alongside captain Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in central defence.
Several big names, including Rodrigo Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani, remained on the bench at the weekend, with Brennan Johnson and Destiny Udogie coming on as substitutes. Frank admitted post-match that he deliberately rotated his squad ahead of the Champions League, stressing the importance of resting players during a packed season. He praised the depth at his disposal, noting Bentancur’s and Richarlison’s workloads during the international break and highlighting Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel’s contributions as further examples of his squad’s strength.
Despite a largely settled starting XI, the midfield remains Frank’s toughest call. Bergvall’s strong display secures his place, with Sarr the most likely to drop out.
Tottenham predicted XI vs Villarreal (4-2-3-1):
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Richarlison.
