This highly anticipated Premier League clash sees two of the league’s winning sides from the opening weekend face off at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City, fresh off a dominant 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, will look to maintain their top spot, while Tottenham Hotspur, under new manager Thomas Frank, aims to build on their impressive 3-0 home win against Burnley.
Head-to-Head
Historically, the rivalry between these two clubs has been closely contested.
- Overall Record (across all competitions):
- Manchester City Wins: 69
- Draws: 37
- Tottenham Hotspur Wins: 68
- Recent Form (last 12 Premier League meetings):
- Manchester City wins: 4
- Draws: 2
- Tottenham wins: 6
Interestingly, despite City’s domestic dominance in recent years, Spurs have often proven to be a difficult opponent, particularly at the Etihad. Their last visit saw them inflict a resounding 4-0 defeat on City in November 2024. However, City did get a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in February.
Recent Form & Key Stats
Manchester City
- Last 5 games (all competitions): 4 wins, 1 loss (one loss came from a penalty shootout)
- Their most recent Premier League match was a 4-0 away win against Wolves, with Erling Haaland scoring a brace and new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet.
- City have been prolific in front of goal recently, scoring 20 goals in their last 5 matches.
- Haaland is in good form, having already netted two goals to start the season.
- They are coming into this game with a lot of confidence after a strong start to the season and a dominant performance in their opening fixture.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Last 5 games (all competitions): 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss
- Spurs began their league campaign with a convincing 3-0 home victory over Burnley. Richarlison was the star of the show, scoring twice.
- New manager Thomas Frank’s side looked well-organized and potent in attack.
- They will be without some key players, including long-term absentee James Maddison.
- Spurs have a mixed record recently, but will be encouraged by their performance against Burnley and their strong head-to-head record against City.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Manchester City
- Injuries/Absentees: Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol, and Savinho are all out.
- Key Returns: Rodri and Phil Foden are both back in the squad after missing the first game, though it’s not confirmed if they will start.
- Goalkeeper Dilemma: The goalkeeping position is a point of contention, with young James Trafford having started the first game and Ederson returning to the squad amid transfer rumors to Galatasaray.
- Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva, Reijnders; Doku, Haaland, Cherki.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Injuries/Absentees: James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Radu Dragusin are long-term absentees. Yves Bissouma and Destiny Udogie are also expected to be out.
- Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Danso, Van de Ven; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson.
Managers’ Quotes
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City):
- “He’s still so far the best player in the world until we elect a new one in a few months. I don’t have any doubts about his potential and quality. Just consistency at training, weeks, training, games, minutes, and after everything will be fine.” (on Rodri)
- On new manager Thomas Frank: “I do not doubt that Thomas will do an incredible job at a big, big club, just like he did at Brentford. He is a top-class manager, and he offers a different alternative to how they can play.”
- He downplayed suggestions of City’s “swagger” being back after one game, stating, “I don’t know. We have played one game. I like a lot of the things I am seeing day-to-day in the training… I would like to be a magician and know what is going to happen, but I don’t know.”
Thomas Frank (Tottenham Hotspur):
- While there are no specific recent quotes for this match, his praise for the squad and his emphasis on their progress will be evident in his approach. Frank will be looking to build on the positive start and prove his tactical prowess against one of the world’s best.
Match Prediction
This promises to be an exciting and high-scoring affair. Manchester City’s attacking prowess is well-documented, and their new signings have already made an impact. However, Tottenham has a good recent record against them and looked strong in their opening game. Spurs’ new system and attacking threats could cause problems for the City defense. City’s home advantage and overall squad depth likely give them the edge, but it won’t be an easy game.
Predicted Score: Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
