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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 net in the fourth minute.
Nevertheless, three points on the board and Thomas Frank will bank that on his first outing in the Champions League.
There were scares at the back and escapes for Spurs, chief among them a foul by Micky van de Ven on Georges Mikautadze in the closing minutes, which felled the Georgian 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
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 this season. The Lewis family are said to be taking 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 somehow contrived to push it into his own net.
Bergvall had been searching for Richarlison who came sliding in at pace just in case, but it would be wrong to pretend there was any real pressure on the Brazilian keeper, 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.
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 make adjustments and he tweaked his team a little as he likes to do, recalling Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur who did not start in Saturday's win at West Ham having just made the long haul back from World Cup qualifiers in South America.
Palhinha and Mathys Tel, who is not in the Champions League squad, dropped out and there was a home debut for Xavi Simons, signed for £52million from Leipzig, late in the transfer window.
Simons played off the left and made a bright start, whistling the first shot of the game over from 25 yards after Micky van de Ven knocked a long free kick from Guglielmo Vicario down into his path.
Villarreal, fifth in Spain's La Liga, where they finished last season, settled again after 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 quite 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, the only shot on target in the first half, and there were two strong claims for penalties, both involving Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye.
The first was a tap on the 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 came out with renewed purpose after the interval and hustled 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 from a corner and Pepe was only inches off target after a Romero pass had been intercepted in midfield.
Simons was fortunate to escape a second yellow card, midway through the second half. His trip on Pepe stopped a counterattack and Villarreal boss Marcelino was shown a yellow card for his protests.
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 Tottenham preserved their clean sheet and ensured a winning start.
