Match Report: Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur
By Tom Vinall
On Saturday evening, Tottenham Hotspur locked horns with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, for the return of club football, after the final international break of 2024.
For the task at hand, Ange opted for a line up of; Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.
Famous night up at the Etihad Stadium for Tottenham Hotspur
Within literally the first 15 seconds of the game, Bissouma found himself in the book for a foul on Foden, in what will have been very frustrating for Ange in particular.
There was barely five minutes on the clock when Haaland found himself in space for the first time, but he set himself poorly and Davies was able to block the ball and send it behind. A let off in any case.
Around 11 minutes in, Haaland had another presentable opportunity, with Vicario saving well with his outstretched foot from the strikers left footed effort that was heading into the bottom corner.
However, just a couple of minutes later, with Spurs' first real attack of the game, they would take the lead. An absolutely superb, delicate, inswinging cross from Kulusevski found Maddison inside the box, who stabbed the ball home first time, having made a brilliant run to get there.
We had played around 18 minutes when Son had his first shot of the game, as his trademark curling effort from the left hand side had to be tipped behind by Ederson.
Within barely a minute, Spurs had two. A high turnover found the ball with Maddison, who played the ball to Son. The skipper feigned to cut inside, before scooping a deft ball back to Maddison, who kept his cool to lift the ball over Ederson, making it two for him and two for Spurs.
After 28 minutes, Solanke shrugged off Walker to get a shot off, forcing another save from Ederson in the City goal, as Spurs looked to have joy in transitional moments. The final 15 minutes of the half were much of a muchness, and Spurs would go into the break two goals to the good.
Seven minutes into the second half, and they were three to the good. A counter attack ended up with Solanke having the ball wide in the penalty area, as he patiently held onto the ball, waiting for runners. That runner would come in the form of Porro, who smashed the ball into the top corner from Solanke's lay off to make it 3-0.
It would not be fair to go without mentioning Kulusevski's part in the goal. Incredible ball carrying to get away from his markers, before playing a give and go with Son and releasing Solanke in behind. Incredible work from an incredible player.
We had played about an hour when Bissouma was caught on the ball in his own box, resulting in a strike from Haaland, whose effort kissed the crossbar on its way over. Let off from Spurs and Bissouma's point of view.
Three minutes later, Son was replaced by Johnson, as Ange manages the captain's minutes. He did not get his usual goal against City, but did provide a superb assist for Maddison.
Very shortly later, Solanke did absolutely superbly on the break to hold off a challenge and find Kulusevski, who managed to shift the ball back onto his left foot, before seeing his effort saved by Ederson.
With just over 15 minutes left, De Bruyne and Grealish entered the pitch - in case anyone thought it may have been game over.
Soon after, Gundogan found himself unmarked in the six yard box, but his shot was fortunately from an angle, and beaten away by Vicario, with Spurs dealing with the subsequent corner well, eventually winning a free-kick.
Not long later, Haaland had his most presentable opportunity since the first half, after a one-two with De Bruyne, but Vicario was again equal to it and kept it out.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Maddison was replaced by Bergvall. An incredible birthday for the midfielder, with two goals and a win at the Etihad. In the same window, Spence and Werner replaced Udogie and Sarr.
The absolute icing on the cake came in stoppage time. Werner burst down the left side, playing a ball across goal that was tapped home by Johnson from all of a half yard out. Spurs pull off an incredibly historic 4-0 win at the Etihad. COYS.