Tottenham stunned Manchester City with a dominant 4-0 win at the Etihad, piling misery on Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola has now suffered his fifth consecutive defeat for the first time in his managerial career, a shocking statistic for a manager of his stature. The defeat marks a new low for the City boss, who has been under increasing pressure following a string of poor results.
James Maddison marked his 28th birthday with a sensational brace, setting the tone for Spurs’ emphatic win. Maddison’s performance was a highlight of the match, as he clinically took his chances to ensure Spurs were in complete control throughout the game.
The match started with high expectations for City, buoyed by Guardiola’s recent contract extension and Rodri’s Ballon d’Or title, making them the clear favorites. The crowd at the Etihad was eager to see their team extend their winning run and build on recent successes. However, Spurs had other plans, and it was clear from the start that they had come prepared to challenge City. Tottenham took the lead in the 13th minute when Dejan Kulusevski’s perfect cross found Maddison, who volleyed past Ederson in style. The goal was a testament to Spurs' sharp attacking play and the precision of their passing, leaving City’s defense scrambling to recover.
Seven minutes later, Spurs doubled their lead when Maddison capitalized on a mistake from Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian defender’s errant pass was intercepted by Maddison, who quickly combined with Son Heung-min before coolly finishing to give Spurs a 2-0 advantage. The goal left City reeling, and they struggled to regain their composure despite early opportunities from Erling Haaland, who had two decent chances in the first half. One of his shots was deflected wide, while a second-half effort struck the crossbar, much to his frustration.
Despite their early promise, City’s attacking play lacked its usual bite, and Spurs' defensive strength, combined with their lethal counterattacking ability, left the hosts frustrated throughout the game. Tottenham's backline stood strong, neutralizing Haaland and limiting City to few chances. Spurs' clinical counterattacks continued to put City on the back foot, and in the 52nd minute, they added a third goal when Pedro Porro finished a quick break orchestrated by Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke. The rapid pace of the attack stunned City, who were unable to keep up with Spurs’ intensity and precision.
With the game effectively sealed, Tottenham wasn’t finished. In stoppage time, Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined brilliantly to score Spurs' fourth goal, sealing City’s worst home defeat since moving to the Etihad Stadium. The defeat was a bitter blow to Guardiola’s side, who had hoped to extend their dominant record at home but were instead left humiliated by a ruthless Spurs team that capitalized on every opportunity. The 4-0 scoreline will certainly go down as one of the most surprising results of the season, and Guardiola will now face tough questions regarding his team’s recent form and ability to bounce back from this heavy loss.
