Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been nothing short of a disaster. They currently sit in 12th place, having suffered 13 defeats, with only the Europa League left to fight for after being eliminated from all domestic competitions. At such a critical stage of the campaign, a win against Manchester City would have provided Spurs with much-needed momentum, especially after securing three consecutive Premier League victories.

Injuries have plagued the Lilywhites all season, leaving the squad depleted and forcing them to rely on young talent. The crisis led Tottenham to make three winter signings, and credit to the club—those additions have now settled in and are delivering as expected. Heading into the clash, Ange Postecoglou was well aware that facing Guardiola’s City would be no easy task, especially with the reigning champions also struggling. However, as expected, Spurs fell short of securing a victory.

The first half saw a cautious tactical battle between both managers, with each side prioritizing possession and midfield control. However, the game took a decisive turn in the 12th minute when Pedro Porro failed to contain Savinho, allowing him to set up Haaland for a simple tap-in. From that moment, City took control, though Spurs occasionally threatened through Odobert and Tel. Maddison struggled to make an impact, while Brennan Johnson endured a rare off day. Porro and Bergvall, in particular, had a tough time, but Vicario’s crucial saves kept Tottenham in the contest.

Spurs emerged for the second half with renewed urgency, winning several set-pieces and creating half-chances. Kevin Danso and Rodrigo Bentancur both had headers saved by Ederson, while Johnson squandered a close-range opportunity. In an effort to inject fresh energy into the game, Spurs made multiple substitutions, bringing on Son, Spence, Kulusevski, and Pape Sarr.

City, meanwhile, controlled possession with a more defensive approach, introducing Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva to tighten their grip. Savinho continued to be a menace, while Doku’s blistering pace troubled Tottenham’s defense. Spurs had a golden opportunity to equalize when Son unleashed a powerful strike, but Ederson produced an outstanding save to deny them and preserve City’s lead.

Tottenham Starting XI

Guglielmo Vicario: 7/10

He couldn’t do much to stop Haaland’s early goal. Made a few routine saves and was absolutely pivotal in City’s lead being stopped at just one

Pedro Porro: 5/10

Absolutely struggled to contain City’s wingers at times and was partly responsible for the first goal. He did deliver some good crosses, including one that led to a Bentancur header

Kevin Danso: 8/10

One of Spurs’ best defenders on the night. Strong in the air, making key clearances and even had a header saved in the second half. Kept Haaland relatively quiet after the early goal. His best game yet

Archie Gray: 6/10

Showed his composure in possession. Not his best performance, but he didn’t look out of place in a high-stakes game, he is slowly being built for these matches

Destiny Udogie: 6/10

Found it difficult to cope with City’s wide players and committed a few fouls. He didn’t offer much in attack and was subbed off in the second half.

Lucas Bergvall: 4/10

Struggled to impose himself in midfield and was often outmuscled by City’s press. A quiet performance where he failed to make a significant impact. Almost gave away the second goal after losing possession to Haaland

Rodrigo Bentancur: 6/10

Showed his usual work rate and tried to dictate the tempo for Spurs. Had a decent header on goal, but his influence faded as the game went on.

James Maddison: 5/10

Not at his creative best. Played some dangerous passes and got a shot on target but couldn’t find the space to unlock City’s defence. Booked in the second half for an absolutely unnecessary tackle

Brennan Johnson: 7/10

Missed a golden opportunity to equalise with a close-range header. Worked hard but lacked the final product.

Mathys Tel: 6/10

Had little impact on the game and struggled to break past City’s defence before being subbed off. Not a good game for the youngster

Wilson Odobert: 7/10

Energetic and one of the few ones making an actual effort. He certainly deserves to start more.

Substitutes

Dejan Kulusevski: 6/10

Brought on for fresh legs but couldn’t change the game. The Swede was highly ineffective

Pape Matar Sarr : 6/10

Booked for a late challenge but showed some aggression in midfield.

Heung-min Son: 7/10

Had Spurs’ best chance late on but was denied by a stunning Ederson save. Even made a fantastic ball for Spence with his back which the latter failed to deliver

Djed Spence: 6/10

Tried to provide width but didn’t make a huge impact. Ended his three back to back man of the matches streak