Manchester City vs Tottenham Report
Scorers: Maddison 13’, 20’, Porro 53’, Johnson 90+4’
Tottenham Hotspur inflicted a historic 4-0 defeat on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, ending the hosts’ record 52-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The loss marks a fifth consecutive defeat for Pep Guardiola’s side, raising serious concerns for the reigning champions.
Maddison’s Brace Puts Spurs in Control
Manchester City entered the game under pressure after back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, but they started brightly against a Tottenham side also looking to bounce back from a shock 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town.
Erling Haaland tested Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario early on, but the Italian’s quick reflexes kept the Norwegian at bay.
Tottenham responded swiftly, taking the lead in the 12th minute when James Maddison, celebrating his birthday, volleyed home a perfectly-weighted cross from Dejan Kulusevski.
City, who had trailed in five of their six home league matches this season, found themselves in familiar but troubling territory.
Their situation worsened just seven minutes later when Maddison struck again, dinking the ball over Ederson after a clever one-two with Son Heung-min. Despite City creating a few chances, Spurs’ makeshift centre-back pairing of Radu Drăgușin and Ben Davies held firm, frustrating the league’s top scorers.
Porro and Spurs Dominate the Second Half
Things went from bad to worse for City after the break as Tottenham added a third goal.
Former City player Pedro Porro, now a Spurs favourite, slotted home Dominic Solanke’s cut-back with precision, silencing the Etihad crowd.
City tried to rally, with Haaland hitting the crossbar and Joško Gvardiol’s effort being blocked by Porro, but their inability to capitalise on key moments highlighted the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, whose influence was sorely missed in midfield.
Spurs continued to exploit City’s vulnerability in transition. Dejan Kulusevski came close to adding a fourth on a counterattack before Guardiola introduced Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish in a desperate attempt to salvage the game.
However, Tottenham sealed the win in stoppage time when substitutes Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined for the fourth goal, capping off a commanding performance.
City’s Woes Continue, Spurs Climb to Sixth
This defeat ends Manchester City’s 52-game unbeaten home streak in the Premier League, which had stretched back to November 2022 (W28, D6).
It also marks the first time Guardiola’s side has suffered five consecutive defeats in all competitions, a worrying trend ahead of their crucial trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool, who now sit five points clear with a game in hand.
For Tottenham, the victory propels them to sixth in the table, providing a morale boost after recent struggles. James Maddison’s masterclass, combined with defensive resilience and clinical counterattacking, showcased the potential of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Conclusion: City’s Title Defense Under Threat
Tottenham’s emphatic 4-0 win at the Etihad is not only a historic result but also a stark warning for Manchester City. With Liverpool pulling ahead in the title race and City facing a tough fixture at Anfield next, Guardiola will need to find answers quickly to halt his team’s alarming slump.
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Man City v Spurs, 2024/25 | Premier League