Man City reignites top-four push with narrow Spurs win

Manchester City squeaks by Spurs 1-0 to grab a top-four spot! Haaland's goal clinches the win, but can Pep's squad keep their Champions League dreams alive?

February 26, 2025
11:30 pm

Manchester City bounced back into the Premier League’s top four with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, finally getting one over their North London rivals after two earlier defeats this season.

City came into the match under pressure, still feeling the sting from a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at the Etihad — a result that not only hurt their title hopes but also left their Champions League dreams hanging by a thread. With Chelsea jumping ahead of them into fourth after a solid 4-0 win over Southampton, Pep Guardiola’s squad knew they couldn’t afford another slip-up.

From the get-go, City pressed with purpose. They found their breakthrough in the first half when Jérémy Doku’s dazzling wing play set up Erling Haaland for an easy tap-in — a well-deserved goal after Haaland had already tested Guglielmo Vicario with an earlier shot. Haaland’s finishing should have given City a more comfortable lead, but Vicario made some key saves, denying both the striker and Doku’s powerful attempt from the edge of the box. The biggest miss of the half, though, belonged to Savinho, who shockingly blasted over from just eight yards out.

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Tottenham, mostly quiet in the first half, only really threatened in stoppage time when Kevin Danso’s header forced a sharp save from Ederson.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Spurs found their rhythm. Ange Postecoglou’s side, eager to turn things around, pushed forward with fresh energy. Set-pieces became their go-to strategy, with Danso and Rodrigo Bentancur both denied by Ederson, while Pedro Porro headed a chance just over the bar. Their best moment came when Wilson Odobert, stretching to meet Porro’s cross, missed the target from close range.

Despite Spurs’ late push, City’s defense held strong, and Ederson made a crucial save to keep out Son Heung-min’s shot. A dramatic stoppage-time goal for City was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check, but the hosts held on for a vital win.

This victory lifts City one point above Chelsea with 11 games left, keeping their Champions League hopes alive. Meanwhile, Tottenham sits in 13th, with their three-match winning streak in the league coming to an end. Postecoglou can take some positives from his side’s spirited second-half performance, but he’ll need to boost their confidence ahead of some crucial fixtures.