In what was a season-defining showdown on Tuesday night, Manchester City moved to the cusp of this season’s Premier League title as they secured a 2-0 victory against Tottenham.
While the Sky Blues might have been dethroned at the top of the table last weekend as Arsenal clinched a 1-0 win away at Manchester United, Pep Guardiola’s men didn’t show any signs of a phycological wobble here.
Although City might have struggled to find top gear for large spells of the first-half, they quickly breached Spurs’ defence as attacking talisman Erling Haaland tapped home from close range minutes after the restart.
With all of the pressure on their shoulders and with Arsenal fans nervously watching on, it was eventually Haaland who dragged City to a definitive victory as the ex-Borussia Dortmund striker converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
The Sky Blues will welcome West Ham to the Etihad on Sunday afternoon knowing that three points will be enough to make more domestic history.
As for Spurs, while many fans around the white half of north London might have been excited by the prospect of handing their arch-rivals a crucial title blow, Tottenham’s Champions League dreams have officially gone up in smoke following Tuesday’s defeat.
With a top-four return officially off the table heading into the final weekend, Tottenham have now lost five of their previous six Premier League appearances.
On a night when Manchester City moved to the cusp of claiming a fourth-consecutive Premier League crown, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the capital.
City now just 90 minutes away from the history books
Watching Arsenal clinch a 1-0 victory away at Old Trafford last weekend, all of the pressure was back on Manchester City’s shoulders as they travelled to north London on Tuesday night.
However, although the Sky Blues might have suffered Champions League heartbreak last month as the relinquished their maiden European crown, Guardiola’s squad haven’t shown any signs of a phycological wobble.
Making another statement of intent on Saturday lunchtime as they stormed their way to a routine 4-0 romp against Fulham, the former Barcelona boss has seen his side embark on a remarkable domestic romp since opening the New Year.
Not suffering a single Premier League defeat since the start of December, City have only continued to underline just why many across the continent still regard them to be Europe’s elite club side.
Now winning all of their previous nine straight meetings against Premier League opposition and also booking their FA Cup final ticket last month, Guardiola’s men are now just 90 minutes away from claiming an historic fourth consecutive domestic title.
Tottenham fail to do their arch-rivals a favour
Although Spurs might have opened Wednesday’s showdown in the capital still holding a mathematical chance of booking a Champions League return, it was no secret that Tottenham’s fanbase were divided on what they wanted the outcome to be in north London.
While Ange Postecoglou might have made it clear that his side would not have their attention focused elsewhere, it is hardly a secret that the last things Spurs supporters want is their bitter arch-rivals claiming a first Premier League title since 2004.
However, although some fans around the white half of north London might have been happy with the outcome on Tuesday night, Postecoglou himself will be concerned by the way that his squad are signing off the 2023/24 campaign.
Watching their Champions League ambitions take a final blow here, the former Celtic boss has now seen his side lost five of their previous six top-flight appearances.
Although Spurs might have mounted a crucial comeback at home against now-relegated Burnley last weekend, Tottenham have struggled to find any kind of stability since returning from March’s international break.
It was always going to be Haaland
In a showdown that was always set to be an incredibly tense affair, it almost seems fitting that it was Manchester City’s striking superstar who dragged them over the finishing line here.
While Guardiola’s men might have been far from at their clinical best on either side of the half-time break, Haaland was once again in the right place at the right time as the Norwegian record-breaker tapped home minutes after the restart.
Although England international Phil Foden might have stolen plenty of Man City’s headlines this season, the former Borussia Dortmund ace who is cruising his way to consecutive Premier League Golden Boots.
Only continuing on what has been a record-breaking romp since arriving from rural Germany two years ago, Haaland has only further cemented his spot as the most lethal marksmen in European football.
Bagging his second of the night thanks to a calmly converted penalty in stoppage time, the 23-year-old has now registered 27 Premier League strikes this season and holds a commanding six-goal buffer over ex-teammate and Chelsea star Cole Palmer at the top of the charts.
Match Report
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, van de Ven, Bentancur, Hojberg, Sarr, Johnson, Son, Maddison
Subs: Kulusevski, Lo Celso, Skipp, Moore
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Ortega, Doku, Alvarez
Goals: Haaland (51’, 90+1’ P)
Yellow Cards: Tottenham: Bentancur, Romero, Sarr – Manchester City: Foden, Kovacic, Silva
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
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