Tottenham Hotspur marked their presence in the Premier League by defeating Manchester City 2-0 at the iconic Etihad Stadium. The scoring began with Brennan Johnson, who put Spurs ahead in the 34th minute with a stunning shot. João Palhinha followed up by sealing the deal with a second goal just before halftime, at the 46th minute.
João Palhinha’s outstanding performance earned him the title of Man of the Match. The Tottenham midfielder not only scored a goal but also completed 20 successful passes and made 2 key tackles, showcasing his all-around contribution to the team’s victory.
Also key to Tottenham’s success was forward Brennan Johnson, who netted the first goal, took 2 shots on target against Manchester City, and provided 9 effective passes.
For Manchester City, coach Josep Guardiola deployed a 4-5-1 formation with James Trafford in goal, supported by a defense including Rico Lewis, John Stones, Rúben Dias, and Rayan Ait Nouri. The midfield was comprised of Nicolás Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, Oscar Bobb, Rayan Cherki, and Omar Marmoush, while Erling Haaland led the attack.
Conversely, Tottenham, under manager Thomas Frank, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Guglielmo Vicario as goalkeeper, with a defensive line of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Djed Spence. The midfield trio included Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha, and Pape Matar Sarr, and the attacking front consisted of Brennan Johnson, Richarlison, and Mohammed Kudus.
The match was officiated by referee Peter Bankes.
Looking ahead, Manchester City will travel to face Brighton and Hove, while Tottenham will host Bournemouth in their upcoming fixtures. Currently, Manchester City sits in fifth place with 3 points, while Tottenham leads the league with 6 points.
Substitutions for Manchester City
21’ 1H – Rayan Ait Nouri out for Nathan Aké
53’ 2H – Rayan Cherki out for Bernardo Silva
54’ 2H – Omar Marmoush out for Jeremy Doku
74’ 2H – Oscar Bobb out for Phil Foden and Nicolás Gonzalez out for Rodri
Yellow Card for Manchester City:
26’ 2H Nicolás Gonzalez (arguing with an opponent)
Substitutions for Tottenham
76’ 2H – Brennan Johnson out for Wilson Odobert and Richarlison out for Dominic Solanke
85’ 2H – Mohammed Kudus out for Lucas Bergvall
90’ 2H – João Palhinha out for Kevin Danso
Yellow Cards for Tottenham:
33’ 1H Brennan Johnson (arguing with an opponent), 22’ 2H Cristian Romero (unsporting behavior), 26’ 2H Richarlison (insulting or disapproving the referee), and 35’ 2H Pedro Porro (delaying the game)