Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
These two sides returned from the international break with contrasting results, yet both Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal average around two goals per game.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham delivered the over 2.5 almost single-handedly within the first 20 minutes of the second half against West Ham United, with Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven all on the scoresheet. That spell also coincided with their opponents going down to ten men. Even so, it marked a third clean-sheet victory for Tottenham, and a second by a comfortable margin. They had to settle for a 2:0 against Manchester City, but you can hardly complain about that.
Villarreal
Villarreal, meanwhile, ran into an Atlético Madrid side desperate for their first win of the season. The team matched the hosts in the first half (both sides posting 0.87 xG), with Alberto Moleiro especially lively on the left, creating chances worth 0.70 xG. But it was all undone by a defensive lapse inside nine minutes, ruthlessly punished. Against lesser opposition such as Real Oviedo (2:0) or Girona (5:0), Villarreal have shown they can rack up goals with ease.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Villarreal Prediction
Tottenham, though, have Guglielmo Vicario between the posts, a keeper who has denied even Erling Haaland. That suggests a shootout is unlikely. And let’s not forget, Tottenham themselves rarely cut loose in last season’s triumphant Europa League campaign — five of their seven knockout ties finished under 2.5 goals. That’s the way we see this one going too.
