Manchester City – Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City thrashed Wolves 4-0, Tottenham got off to a promising start under new coach Thomas Frank with a 3-0 win over Burnley, and now the two teams meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Citizens showed an impressive mix of proven class and new impetus against Wolves. Erling Haaland scored twice, while debutants Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki immediately caused a stir. Following the departures of key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola is successfully rebuilding his team around the Norwegian striker. Under Frank, Tottenham looked much more structured than in the previous season. Richarlison shone with two goals, including a spectacular overhead kick, while new signing Mohammed Kudus immediately impressed with two assists. After winning their first title in 17 years, the Spurs appear more tactically flexible and could finally develop the consistency they have been longing for. Manchester City have won three of their last five encounters, but Tottenham have shown themselves to be dangerous in front of goal, especially away from home at the Etihad. The betting market sees the hosts as clear favorites, reflecting their current strength.
Man City – Tottenham Info
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Date and time: 23.08.2025, 13:30
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 2)
Man City form & record check
Manchester City are in excellent shape after their impressive 4-0 opening win against Wolves. Their place at the top of the table reflects the impressive performance Pep Guardiola’s team put in last weekend. The Sky Blues showed a different approach compared to previous seasons: less possession-oriented, but more direct and faster going forward. This tactical adjustment could indicate that Guardiola is building the team more around Haaland, especially after the departures of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish. City leads the table level on points with Sunderland, with only goal difference separating them. The last five games have shown a remarkable pattern: City has won every first half and scored in every game. However, the personnel situation remains tense. Phil Foden and Rodri were already out against Wolves due to injury, while Josko Gvardiol and Savinho are also carrying knocks. Guardiola is also expecting four to five more departures before the transfer window closes, which further complicates squad planning. Nevertheless, the team looks focused and ready to defend their title.
The Citizens are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, but with significant personnel changes due to numerous absences. The injuries to Rodri and Phil Foden, who are not expected back until the end of August, are particularly painful. Trafford is expected to start in goal as Ederson is still ill. Gvardiol could be missing in defense, which would force Lewis into the left-back position. The midfield around Reijnders and Bernardo Silva will have to do without the injured Kovačić. After their strong start against Wolves, it remains to be seen how the new faces Cherki and the other new signings will perform today.
Tottenham Form & Record Check
Tottenham are in impressive form at the start of the new season. The 3-0 home win against Burnley was a statement from the Spurs under their new coach Thomas Frank, who took over from Ange Postecoglou. The statistics from the last five games reveal interesting patterns for the Londoners: They win 80% of their first halves, but concede virtually no goals before the break. This shows a new tactical discipline under Frank, even if the second halves are then much more open. Third place in the table after the first matchday is only a snapshot, but the three points are identical to those of Sunderland, who are directly ahead of them. Liverpool are level on points behind them. In their current form, Spurs look ready for bigger challenges, even if injury worries surrounding James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Destiny Udogie cloud the picture. However, Frank has already shown that he can react flexibly and integrate young talents such as Lucas Bergvall skillfully.
Tottenham are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, although Thomas Frank has shown tactical flexibility. The personnel situation remains tense: Kulusevski and Maddison are still out, as is Udogie in defense. Kudus could once again play a central role after his strong debut against Burnley. Bergvall seems set to start in midfield after his recent impressive performances. Palhinha is still waiting for his first start, but could provide the necessary stability against City. Up front, Richarlison is likely to be preferred to Solanke again after his spectacular overhead kick. The defense around Romero and van de Ven has looked solid recently, although Drăgușin’s long-term injury limits the options.
H2H Man City – Tottenham Head-to-Head & Statistics
The record from the last five meetings speaks for itself: Manchester City leads 3-2, with no draws. That shows that these duels usually have a clear trend. City is currently on a remarkable run of three consecutive games in which they have scored against Tottenham. At the same time, Tottenham have conceded at least one goal in each of their last three direct encounters. Tactically, the games have been rather cautious. In four of the last five games, the number of goals scored has been less than 3.5. The exception was Tottenham’s surprising 4-0 win in November 2024, when the Spurs really showed City what they were made of. The most recent meeting in February 2025 saw City narrowly win 1-0 in London. Prior to that, Tottenham had shown that they were more than capable of beating City with the aforementioned thrashing and a 2-1 win in the League Cup. The home record at the Etihad could play a role today, although history shows that home advantage is not automatically a deciding factor when these two teams meet.
The betting tips for the match are based on a detailed analysis of both teams and their current form. While the bookmakers rate City as clear favorites with odds of 1.5, the statistics and personnel situations suggest that the game could be more goal-rich and evenly matched than expected. The tip for over 1.5 goals in the second half is based on impressive 80% figures for both teams in recent games. City’s more direct play around Haaland and Guardiola’s tactical flexibility often lead to late goals, while Spurs traditionally turn up the heat in the second half. The injury crisis in Tottenham’s defense could give Guardiola’s team additional space. The tip for over 1.5 goals in the first half is based on City’s explosive starts with five goals in their last five first halves, although Tottenham’s perfect record of under 1.5 goals at halftime calls for caution. New attacking players Reijnders and Cherki have already proven their effectiveness. The “Both teams to score: Yes” tip looks attractive despite City’s home strength, as key defenders such as Ederson, Gvardiol, and Rodri are missing. Richarlison and Kudus have already shown their goal-scoring prowess for Tottenham, and City’s attacking mindset leaves space for counterattacks. While the betting markets rate a draw at 4.6, the personnel situation could well provide more balance than the odds suggest.
