Ruggeri shines on first Premier League start as Tonali fades again
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Matteo Ruggeri of Aston Villa is challenged by Archie Gray of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 19, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Matteo Ruggeri and Sandro Tonali started at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon and left with opposite verdicts after a 3-2 win for Aston Villa, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s Spurs winless after their first five games of the season.
Ruggeri made his first Premier League start since joining Villa from Atletico Madrid in August, having managed just 23 minutes as a substitute beforehand. He lasted the full 90 and earned a 7.5 FotMob rating, matching his mark against Coventry in the midweek EFL Cup clash.
Ruggeri neutralises Savio as Villa beat Tottenham
His numbers: 94 touches, 51 successful passes at 92.7 per cent, six interceptions, eight clearances and 11 recoveries, covering 14.5km. Savio, the winger he was up against, was rated 4/10 by one outlet on the basis that Ruggeri worked him out inside 20 minutes.
Tonali’s afternoon matched his team’s. He was positive early, carrying from deep and cutting back for Dominic Solanke before going close himself from range, then faded as Spurs were overrun through the middle. He completed 59 of his 65 attempted passes and won 7/8 of his defensive duels but struggled elsewhere.
Tonali has now played five Premier League games since his summer move without a win, with Tottenham on two points from five.
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