Tottenham Hotspur finally scored their first goals of the Premier League season but lost 3-2 to Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
This defeat leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s team without a league win after five matches. They have two draws and three losses, leaving them with two points and in 18th place as the international break begins.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, moved up to 15th place with four points after earning their first league win of the 2026/27 season under Unai Emery.
Tottenham came into the match without scoring in their first four Premier League games, but they ended their goal drought after Villa built a three-goal lead.
Johan Manzambi scored for Villa in first-half stoppage time. Nicolas Jackson made it 2-0 in the 67th minute. Emiliano Buendia then appeared to seal the game when he scored in the 79th minute to make it 3-0.
But Spurs made a late push. Conor Gallagher scored in the 86th minute. Jan Paul van Hecke then headed in another goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, bringing the score to 3-2.
Tottenham tried hard to equalise in the last moments, but Villa held on to win their first Premier League match of the season.
This result adds to the tough start for De Zerbi, who came to Tottenham looking to improve a team that barely avoided relegation last season. Spurs had lost their opening matches to Brentford and Newcastle, followed by two goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton.
They also lost 3-1 to Liverpool in the League Cup earlier this week. This latest defeat means De Zerbi goes into the international break still searching for his first Premier League win, with Tottenham in 18th place with two points, according to PUNCH Online.
For Emery, this victory is a boost after Villa's tough start to the season. Villa had only one point from their first four league matches, losing to Brighton, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest, and drawing with Hull City.
Saturday’s win lifted them to 15th place with four points from five games, which includes one win, one draw, and three losses.
Despite Tottenham’s late fightback, Villa’s counter-attacking strategy worked well. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made five saves to help his team survive a strong late attack from Spurs. Tottenham had 64 percent possession and 11 corners, while Villa had just one, but they could not convert this advantage into a point, as noted by ESPN on Saturday.
The 16-day international break now gives both managers time to regroup. Tottenham needs to find a way to move away from the relegation zone, while Villa looks to build on their first league win.
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