Tottenham Haunt Manchester City Again with Clinical 2-0 Victory at the Etihad

Tottenham Hotspur delivered another blow to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, defeating the reigning champions 2-0 in a tense clash during the second round of the Premier League season.

Just months after Spurs humiliated City 4-0 on their own turf in the previous campaign, the North London side returned with ruthless efficiency — reminding Pep Guardiola’s men of the ghosts of last season’s collapse.

Richarlison and Johnson Strike in the First Half

The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Richarlison latched onto a long ball down the left, sprinted past the defence, and delivered a pinpoint low cross into the box. Brennan Johnson met it with a calm finish to make it 1-0 for the visitors.

Then, deep into first-half stoppage time, City’s young goalkeeper James Trafford gifted Spurs a second. A misjudged clearance allowed João Palhinha to pounce and double the lead — silencing the home crowd just before the break.

Stats Even, Scoreline Not

Both sides registered 10 shots apiece and enjoyed spells of possession, but Tottenham were far more clinical in front of goal. Despite City’s efforts to mount a second-half comeback, the scoreboard remained untouched.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Manchester City - Tottenham 0:2 (0:2)
Goals: Johnson B-n, 35 (0:1); Palhinha, 45 (0:2)

Manchester City: Trafford; Dias R.; Stones; Aït-Nouri (Ake, 23); Lewis R.; Reijnders; Nico González (Rodri, 75); Cherki (Bernardo Silva, 54); Bobb (Foden, 75); Marmoush (Doku J., 54); Håland E.
Bench: Ederson; Khusanov; Matheus Nunes; O'Reilly
Yellow Cards: Nico González 71

Tottenham: Vicario G.; Romero C.; Porro; Spence D.; van de Ven; Palhinha (Danso, 90); Johnson B-n (Odobert, 78); Sarr P.; Bentancur; Kudus (Bergvall, 86); Richarlison (Solanke, 78)
Bench: Kinský; Vuskovic L.; Davies; Gray; Tel M.
Yellow Cards: Johnson B-n 34; Romero C. 68; Richarlison 71; Porro 81