There were moments in this first half when it was possible to believe the Manchester City team of Pep Guardiola that once conquered the world was discernible anew, although the memory of their recent decline is proving much harder to outrun.
Not least for their manager. When afterwards the question was put to Guardiola whether this was the old City in the first half and the new, more unreliable City after the break, Guardiola was seized with a touch of melancholy. “Never this season will it be the old City,” he said. “The old City was too good.” He rallied somewhat to add a note of defiance: “But we will be back.”
It helped that after two defeats in the absence of the great Erling Haaland, City’s goalscorer was back to deliver a matchwinner after 12 minutes. At that point his team was in a groove that looked like they could build a lead that would decide the game by half-time. There would be two further chances in the first half for Haaland himself. Some of that was to do with a ragged Tottenham side that seemed unable to fill the spaces and anticipate the passing sequences of new City, but even so – Guardiola’s team looked good.
Yet when the game stretched to 97 minutes, City found themselves hanging on again. A long VAR review to uphold Jarred Gillet’s on-field decision to disallow a second Haaland goal on 94 minutes for handball and then Spurs very nearly plundered an equaliser. Ange Postecoglou’s side had looked out of the game at half-time. Only an act of mercy from City in front of goal had prevented it from being more: Haaland’s two chances, plus others for Savinho and Jeremy Doku. “The game was open in the second half because we didn’t close it in the first,” Guardiola said. His team was close to tossing away another lead.
Not least a header from Pape Matar Sarr, with Spurs’ last attack of the game from a cross flicked on by fellow substitute Son Heung-min.
Spurs had certainly created some momentum in the second half but they could scarcely have been much worse than their first half. Postecoglou had rested Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Djed Spence, reasoning that they had played a lot of games and there was no point having a squad and not using it. In the meantime, Pedro Porro was run into the ground by Doku and Spurs barely laid a glove on City in attack.
“In the first half we were a bit too eager to get forward and we were really wasteful,” Postecoglou said. “We allowed them to get a rhythm in the game.” That was a generous assessment of a side that lacked the kind of structure that might have been expected. The second half performance took the edge off the sense of frustration that the home fans felt at half-time. Postecoglou shared a warm embrace and chat with Guardiola at the end, although it was not so comfortable elsewhere.
A banner lifted by the Spurs fans at the end of the game read: “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy: time for a change”. The television cameras cut to Daniel Levy. If he is thinking of a change, it will concern his manager – not Levy’s position as Spurs chairman, which he has no intention of relinquishing. This defeat had followed three victories in the Premier League, and there is still the possibility of winning the Europa League, although it feels ever more like Levy must be considering change in the summer.
For City, the return of Haaland gave them a reliable edge in attack. He missed the defeats to Real Madrid and Liverpool – arguably the two best sides in Europe – and may not have been able to swing the balance in City’s favour even if he had been fit, but even so. For all his good work Savinho just seems to go to pieces when it comes to the business of finishing.
Doku is not yet a reliable source of goals. This victory made it five wins and five defeats in the last ten games in all competitions for Guardiola. A strange kind of existence for a once dominant team. He left out Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva and then called upon them from the bench as the game tipped in Spurs’ favour.
This was a much better City defensive performance. Guardiola rhapsodised about the performance of Abdukodir Khusanov, the 20-year-old Uzbek who has settled remarkably rapidly after his unsettling debut against Chelsea less than a month ago. Guardiola said that the young man, the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League, did not even turn up with a wash-bag for this game – “he’s only here to play football”. He seemed to be suggesting that Khusanov does not worry too much about the trappings of a Premier League footballer’s lifestyle – rather than any concern about a deficit of toiletries. “He is so fast,” Guardiola said of Khusanov. “The quality of his passes is extraordinary. He breaks the lines for us.”
Haaland’s goal was beautifully worked from the right side, starting with Savinho to the City No 9 onto Nico Gonzalez and then Doku on the left. His ball into Haaland took a deflection. Spurs finished the first half with an expected goal metric of 0.09, and even that seemed to rely heavily on a late Kevin Danso header which was the only major effort on target.
10:01 PM GMT
Pep Guardiola’s reaction
We’re really happy with the victory because we needed it. The second half was open because we didn’t close it in the first half when we had so many clear chances. We knew we would have to suffer in the second half, but the guys – pthht – they fought so hard.
[On the disallowed goal] Listen, I didn’t see it. But the referee was much, much quicker to disallowed it than the VAR. He was clever, and quick.
The wingers were again outstanding and Khusanov had another incredible game.
We know how good Spurs are, they have an incredible manager so it’s a really good win.
09:53 PM GMT
Ange Postecoglou’s verdict
The first half was difficult, they had the ascendancy, but we dominated the whole second half and could have got something out of the game.
I dunno what the VAR thing was about – if it takes that long just go with the referee’s decision. Anyway. I don’t like standing around, I’d rather watch football.
The difference between the sides was just the cutting edge. We certainly created enough opportunities.
09:44 PM GMT
Erling Haaland’s reaction
We’re happy. It’s an important three points and that’s what we need.
Jeremy [Doku] had a really good game and should have had more assists. It was a great goal and good to get the ball from Jeremy. It’s not always easy to know when it will come because he is such a good dribbler.
[On the disallowed goal] I think it’s the wrong decision. I think it’s more a penalty [for handball by Danso] than a free-kick but they stayed with the on-field decision. I think it’s completely wrong; that’s my opinion.
[On reaching 20 Premier League goals again] It’s nice after the game but when you’re in the moment you don’t think about it, you just want to win the game. That’s my focus. I know it’s boring to say that but it’s true.
09:36 PM GMT
The goal that wasn’t
#TOTMCI – 90+4'
The referee's call of no goal for a handball by Haaland was checked and confirmed by VAR – with no conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) February 26, 2025
09:27 PM GMT
FT: Spurs 0 Man City 1
All’s well that ends well for Manchester CIty. Erling Haaland’s goal has given them an important victory despite that late drama at the end.
09:27 PM GMT
90+8 min: No goal
It turns out the referee Jarred Gillett gave handball on the field, so the lack of conclusive evidence either way meant the goal was disallowed.
It was chaos at the end of the game, with Sarr almost heading an equaliser straight from the restart. Porro’s cross was flicked on by Son, and Sarr headed over the bar from 10 yards.
09:25 PM GMT
90+7 min: VAR check ongoing
This is a tough call for the VAR officials. It’s really hard to see exactly what happened because the ball was ricocheting at chest height between Gray, Danso and Haaland. I suspect the goal will be given because there is no conclusive evidence of handball.
09:22 PM GMT
Goal!
90+4 min: Tottenham 0 Man City 2 (Haaland) Erling Haaland seals victory right at the last, though there will be a VAR check for handball. Haaland barrelled through the defence, onto a chip from Foden, and finished calmly with his right foot.
09:21 PM GMT
90+3 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
City substitution Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish replace Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic.
09:19 PM GMT
90 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Four minutes of added time. Spurs have lost their way in the last 10 minutes or so.
09:17 PM GMT
87 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
City appeal for a penalty when Danso, sliding in to challenge Savinho, accidentally handles the ball. In all the excitement the referee Jarred Gillett falls on his backside as well.
Danso’s arm was in a natural position so VAR won’t get involved.
09:15 PM GMT
86 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Sarr is booked for a foul on Foden.
09:13 PM GMT
83 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Terrific save by Ederson! Johnson scorches past Kovacic on the right and crosses low towards the near post. Son clips a shot on the run that is very well saved by Ederson, plunging to his left.
09:11 PM GMT
83 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
A vicious long-range shot is headed behind by Danso. It might have been going wide anyway but he couldn’t take a chance.
09:10 PM GMT
83 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Thomas Tuchel is at the Tottenham stadium tonight. He names his first England squad on Friday, March 14. Could he be having a look at Djed Spence, who is on as a substitute? He will certainly recognise a certain Timo Werner, who has just come on.
09:09 PM GMT
82 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Spurs substitution Timo Werner replaces James Maddison.
09:05 PM GMT
77 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
City were so good before half-time but the second half has ;argely been an exercise in defending. To their credit, Ederson still hasn’t had an especially difficult save to make.
09:01 PM GMT
73 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Double substitution for City Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva replace Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez.
08:58 PM GMT
71 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Much better from Spurs in the second half. Ange Postecoglou had to wait a long time to get his subs on - Kulusevski, Son and Spence. So long that he added another - Sarr - when Bentancur went very close to a second yellow card in the interim.
08:57 PM GMT
69 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Chance for Spurs Son releases Spence, who finds Sarr with a precise cutback. His first-time shot is blocked by a City defender and rolls across the field for a throw-in. It didn’t look the most convincing effort from Sarr though we haven’t seen a replay.
08:55 PM GMT
68 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Johnson, ahead of the near post, mistimes a header over the bar from Maddison’s corner.
08:55 PM GMT
67 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Spurs substitutions Son Heung-min, Djed Spence, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Sarr replace Odobert, Tel, Udogie and Bentancur.
08:54 PM GMT
65 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Udogie wins the ball in the City half, charges forward and slides a low cross towards Tel, who is about to shoot when a City player pokes the ball behind for a corner. Fine defending.
08:52 PM GMT
65 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Savinho’s long-range shot is blocked at the end of a very patient City move.
08:51 PM GMT
63 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Maddison’s corner is headed straight at Ederson by Bentancur, a quarter chance at best. But Spurs are on top for the first time all night.
08:49 PM GMT
61 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Odobert’s shot takes a big deflection and is palmed behind by Ederson, under pressure as the ball looped in the general direction of goal.
08:47 PM GMT
59 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Danso, 12 yards out, heads Porro’s free-kick straight at Ederson. Spurs are having their best spell of the game.
08:45 PM GMT
57 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Maddison is booked for a brazen tactical foul on Savinho.
08:44 PM GMT
55 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Chance for Spurs Porro’s terrific low cross from the right is studded wide from six yards by Odobert at the far post. It’s Spurs’ best chance, though he was on the stretch which made it difficult.
08:43 PM GMT
54 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Savinho cuts inside from the right and rifles a shot that hits Danso and deflects wide. City’s wingers have been a constant threat.
08:41 PM GMT
53 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Although they were well beaten by Liverpool and humiliated by Arsenal, City are on a pretty decent run in the Premier League. A win tonight would be their sixth in the last nine games.
08:38 PM GMT
51 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
ku shoots wide from the edge of the area after another exciting run. When he’s good, he’s electric.
08:38 PM GMT
50 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
If Tottenham are going to get back into this, then they will have to score in the second half of a Premier League game at home for the first time since December 22 when they were beaten 6-3 by Liverpool.
08:37 PM GMT
49 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Marmoush’s short through pass almost releases Savinho. It took a well-judged tackle from Udogie to stop Savinho running clear on goal.
08:35 PM GMT
47 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Odobert, who started the first half superbly then faded, beats Nunes with ease on the edge of the area before being crowded out by City defenders.
08:33 PM GMT
46 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Spurs get the second half under way.
08:17 PM GMT
HT: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Half-time. A better end to the half for Spurs but most of it has been City-dominated. They have looked by far the more structured team, and very solid in defence. A late Kevin Danso header tipped over by Ederson their best chance so far. Then from the corner they allowed City to counterattack. Pep Guardiola slapped his pate in frustration that City did not score another. With the chances they have had, the away side should be three up.
08:16 PM GMT
45 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Chances at both ends! Porro’s free-kick from the right is met well by Danso, whose looping header from 17 yards is turned over the bar by Ederson.
City break from the resulting corner only for Nunes to overhit his cross/pass from the right. Both Haaland and Marmoush were unmarked in the middle.
08:13 PM GMT
42 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Many of the names on the teamsheet are new but this performance is more like the old City. They’ve dominated every facet of the game and could easily be 3-0 up.
08:07 PM GMT
38 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Odobert is fouled on the left wing by Nunes. Spurs aren’t happy that Nunes isn’t booked, though he is arguing that it was an accidental collision.
Nothing comes of the free-kick but Spurs soon win another on the left wing. Maddison takes and Ederson punches away under pressure.
08:06 PM GMT
36 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Tottenham defender Kevin Danso is having a tough night. He was partly culpable for Haaland’s opener, then he was caught out for the Savinho miss and lost the ball in the build up to Haaland’s big chance that was saved by Vicario. Danso can count himself lucky Spurs are still in this.
08:05 PM GMT
35 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Danso pulls back Marmoush 25 yards from goal. Marmoush takes the free-kick himself but cracks it into the wall.
08:03 PM GMT
33 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Savinho twists Udogie’s blood so much that he falls over. That allows Savinho to cut inside and rifle a shot that is crucially blocked by Danso.
08:02 PM GMT
31 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Bentancur is booked for a lunge at Nunes. Spurs are hanging on to a one-goal deficit right now.
08:01 PM GMT
30 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Chance for Haaland! It’s all City now. Kovacic finds Doku, whose first-time cross is met by Haaland eight yards out. His shot is saved desperately by Vicario, sprawling to his left.
At first it looked like a great save but on reflection Haaland shouldn’t have given him a chance from that range.
07:59 PM GMT
28 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Great chance for Savinho! City should be 2-0 up. Doku was found in space once again, ran at Porro and curled a terrific early cross to find Savinho unmarked at the far post, eight yards out. He kicked his shot into the ground and up over the bar. That was a glorious chance, though there’s a chance Doku was offside in the build up.
07:57 PM GMT
27 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
A few groans as Spurs pass the ball around at the back. Eventually Bentancur clips a pass over the defence towards Johnson and Ederson is quickly off his line to claim.
07:55 PM GMT
24 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
This has been a very good City performance so far. Frustration of the home crowd just starting to show. Hard not to feel that for the Erling Haaland goal, Spurs were passed through very easily. Jeremy Doku looks like he could go past Pedro Porro every time he gets the ball.
07:53 PM GMT
23 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
20 - Erling Haaland is only the second player ever to score 20+ goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons, after Ruud van Nistelrooy from 2001-02 to 2003-04. Standards. pic.twitter.com/MkhRTaqu7L
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2025
07:51 PM GMT
21 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Doku zips inside from the left, beating one man, then another, then a third before reversing a low shot from the edge of the area. Vicario gets down smartly to his right to push it away.
07:51 PM GMT
20 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Spurs have got into some promising positions without creating any clear chances. Possession so far hs been roughly 50:50.
07:48 PM GMT
18 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
Odobert wins a corner off Nunes, who complains even though the last touch was clearly off him. Maddison’s corner is headed away at the near post.
07:45 PM GMT
13 min: Spurs 0 Man City 1
I wondered how Doku had managed to thread that cross through the eye of a needle. In fact, a replay from behind the goal shows it took a slight deflection and rolled perfectly onto the left foot of Haaland six yards out.
07:43 PM GMT
Goal!
12 min Spurs 0 Man City 1 (Haaland) The big man’s back. Erling Haaland has given City the lead, screwing a first-time finish past Vicario after an outstanding low cross from Doku.
07:42 PM GMT
11 min: Spurs 0 Man City 0
07:39 PM GMT
8 min: Spurs 0 Man City 0
Nunes makes a good underlap on the right and clips a cross towards Haaland, who drags a right-foot volley straight at Vicario from 12 yards. It was an awkward chance to take as he was falling backwards.
07:37 PM GMT
6 min: Spurs 0 Man City 0
Odobert, who has made a lively start on the Spurs left, runs at Khusanov to win the first corner of the game.
Maddison clips it to the near post, where Tel’s speculative flick is comfortably saved by Ederson.
07:34 PM GMT
3 min: Spurs 0 Man City 0
Savinho runs at Udogie and pushes the ball square to Doku in the D. He goes down after a challenge from Bergvall but the referee waves play on.
07:32 PM GMT
1 min: Spurs 0 Man City 0
City, in their burgundy change strip, kick off from left to right as we watch.
Johnson almost has a shooting chance inside 50 seconds but is crowded out by City defenders.
07:26 PM GMT
Spurs welcome back hero of 1999
Greetings from N17 where the pre-match guest on the pitch is former Spurs midfielder Allan Nielsen who has done something only two Spurs players have accomplished in 26 years. He scored the winning goal for the club in a cup final. Since his goal in the 1999 League Cup final, only Jonathan Woodgate has repeated the feat - nine years later in the same competition. It will not surprise you to hear that he is being asked, once again, to recount the details of that goal against Leicester City.
Enough of the great Spurs trophy curse. Ange Postecoglou has left out Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski tonight. Pep Guardiola has omitted Kevin De Bruyne, as well as Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. Erling Haaland is back. Promises to be a good one.
07:24 PM GMT
A reminder of the teams
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3) Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Tel, Odobert.
Subs: Kinsky, Reguilon, Son, Bissouma, Werner, Kulusevski, Spence, Sarr, Scarlett.
Man City (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Ake, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, Lewis, McAtee.
Referee Jarred Gillett (Australia)
07:17 PM GMT
Spurs show that Europa League is their priority
Tottenham’s team selection is the clearest sign yet that the Europa League is now the club’s priority this season. Leaving Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski on the bench would indicate that Ange Postecoglou wants his stars as fresh as possible for next week’s trip to AZ Alkmaar.
The Europa League offers Tottenham their only chance of a trophy this season and their only chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
07:07 PM GMT
The pre-match thoughts of Ange Postecoglou
We wanted to freshen the team a little bit and gives some guys some minutes. Those three [Son, Spence and Kulusevski] have played a lot of football in recent times, but we’re not losing sight of the fact we have a tough challenge tonight and we want a strong them out there.
It’s always a great test against City - but it’s always a great football game and one I’m looking forward to.
06:58 PM GMT
Both managers looking to the future
The omission of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and others means this is a pretty young City side, with Mateo Kovacic the only outfield player over the age of 27.
Spurs can go one better: in the absence of Son Heung-min, Rodrigo Bentancur is the oldest outfield player at 27.
2 - Spurs have named their second-youngest starting XI in a Premier League match (23y 243d v Manchester City), with tonight being their youngest since September 1992 v Sheffield Wednesday (23y 97d). Youth. pic.twitter.com/xvrvhdImzj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2025
06:52 PM GMT
City interested in Livramento and Cambiaso
Manchester City’s urgent rebuild will continue in the summer. Pep Guardiola loves a full-back and the club are interested in Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Juventus’s Andrea Cambiaso.
06:21 PM GMT
Man City team news
Erling Haaland returns from injury, one of four changes to the City side that lost at home to Liverpool on Sunday. Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic also come in, with Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.
It’s sad when it’s no longer a surprise to see an all-time great like De Bruyne left out of the side.
Your City side to face Spurs ????
XI | Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Nico, Kovacic, Savinho, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/GzTf0zjCtd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 26, 2025
06:20 PM GMT
Spurs team news
Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski are only on the bench, which is not a team selection many expected. James Maddison and Wilson Odobert come in for them, with Pedro Porro replacing Djed Spence at right-back.
06:15 PM GMT
Preview
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute coverage of Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City in the Premier League. City’s extraordinary collapse started with a defeat at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. But it was during the league meeting at the Etihad in November that a drama turned into a crisis for City. They were hammered 4-0, their fifth defeat in a row, and it soon became apparent that this was so much more than just a blip.
City’s rebuild is under way, but Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool – their 14th in the last 27 games in all competitions – was another reminder that there is no quick fix. Their focus now is to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with all the advantages that entails. City start tonight’s game in fifth but will jump to third if they beat Tottenham and Arsenal win at Nottingham Forest.
Spurs’ only realistic route to the Champions League is to win the Europa League. But that doesn’t mean the league is irrelevant. Spurs’ 4-0 win at the Etihad was a false dawn that was followed by a grotesque injury crisis and a series of defeats.
The mood has lifted on the back of three consecutive league wins and the return of some senior players. Every positive result in the Premier League will increase Spurs’ morale and therefore their chances in the Europa League.
“I love coming up against Pep’s teams and looking forward to it,” said their coach Ange Postecoglou. “They will have times in the game where they take control and it’s how we deal with that and cope with that. When we have our moments, we have to show quality. I know we beat them and the scoreline sounds convincing at their place, but it was the quality of our finishing that was the difference.”
Kick off 7.30pm.
