Tottenham fixture release reveals 5 key matches that will decide Champions League hopes

Tottenham's path to glory has been mapped out, with the Premier League dropping all 380 fixtures for the 2025/26 campaign.

The schedule release does facilitate brief excitement for the new season, with all of us keen to project point tallies after six games, and where we could come unstuck during the run-in. There's also vested interest in North London Derby dates, and who we'll face over the hectic festive period.

After a 17th-place finish last season, Thomas Frank has been tasked with returning Spurs to a position of familiarity. We've finished fifth or above 12 times since 2009/10, and securing Champions League football is undoubtedly the club's primary Premier League goal for the Dane's first season in charge—even if Daniel Levy recently spoke about his desire to win the lot.

Projections for 2025/26 at this early juncture are likely to be futile, but we've nonetheless picked out five fixtures set to decide Spurs' Champions League hopes.

1. Man City (A) – Matchday 2

As was the case in 2019/20, Tottenham travel to the Etihad on the second weekend of the new season. Spurs visited Manchester that day with defeat in the Champions League final still relatively fresh in the minds, and some were hopeful that Mauricio Pochettino's side would compete for the title alongside the imperious back-to-back champions.

Spurs rode their luck and somehow escaped with a 2-2 draw thanks to the VAR overturning a late City winner. However, the grit on display from Poch's men failed to translate into anything substantial. The adored Argentine coach had taken his project as far as he could, and he was sacked by mid-November.

Frank's meeting with Pep Guardiola in August will not decide whether Spurs achieve their goals next season, but it could serve as an early tone-setter. Man City are expected to be improved given their array of exciting new arrivals, and this will be their home opener. However, with newbies requiring time to adapt and adjust, an early-season trip to the Etihad may work in Spurs' favour.

Hopefully, a convincing win at home to Burnley to open our account eases the need to claim a result the following week.

2. Newcastle (A) – Matchday 14

November is a pretty tough month with Chelsea and a surely improved Manchester United visiting N17 before we make the short trip across north London to take on the Gooners.

December then kicks off with an almighty challenge against fellow Champions League competitors Newcastle away from home. Visits to St. James' Park are typically ordeals, and we've succumbed to a pair of maulings in recent years, but the schedule-makers have opted to hand us the ultimate challenge by making this a night game.

Who knows where both teams will be in the table by the time this fixture rolls around, but you can bet your bottom dollar that a fervent Toon Army will come to play for this midweek clash.

This is a big opportunity to banish the demons of those 6-0 and 4-0 defeats, but it'll likely take a season-defining display.

3. Arsenal (H) – Matchday 27

Frank's first competitive North London Derby in charge arrives at the Emirates on November 22, and the reverse fixture has been scheduled relatively out of harm's way. Nothing will be decided when Arsenal come to town in mid-February.

It's been a little while since we got one over our unbearably arrogant rivals, who are desperate to get their hands on the Premier League title for the first time in over 20 years. 2025/26 is a huge season for Mikel Arteta, who's overseen three consecutive second-place finishes, and this fixture could be significant in not only aiding/hindering Spurs' Champions League hopes, but shaping the title race, too.

The Gooners have won three on the bounce at our new home, and it could be approaching four years since our last win in this fixture by the time this February duel rolls around.

4. Aston Villa (A) – Matchday 35

Right, now we're getting into the good stuff.

The first 30 games involve merely posturing for the run-in. Spurs will be aiming to best place themselves for a late assault. Overall, April and May don't look too bad, but I'd like to think that Frank's side aren't solely focusing on Premier League fixtures at that late stage. Oh, go on, let's have another cup run.

With Brighton visiting N17 in between trips to Sunderland and Wolves, Spurs will hope for a productive April. However, there are a couple of fixtures in the final month of the season that could make-or-break the domestic campaign.

Aston Villa may well be in top four/five contention down the stretch, although Unai Emery's potential focus on Europa League glory could complicate things. Nevertheless, if the Villans are there or thereabouts, our Matchday 35 trip to Villa Park at the start of May will be seismic.

5. Chelsea (A) – Matchday 37

This is just cruel. Nothing ever good comes of us visiting Stamford Bridge. That 2018 win over Antonio Conte's Chelsea was as one-off as one-off results get. I'm convinced we won't ever win there again.

Spurs, however, may take on their west London rivals at their daunting home in need of points on the penultimate matchday of the season.

I'm not sure how good Chelsea are or can be under Enzo Maresca, but they could be relegation-threatened and they'd still find a way here. We can only hope that we've already been crowned champions by the time we need to fulfil our annual Stamford Bridge disappointment.

Tottenham's full 2025/25 Premier League schedule