MANCHESTER – Tottenham Hotspur once again silenced Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 Premier League victory that left Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated.
Joao Palhinha, making his first start for Spurs, struck just before half-time after a defensive error by City goalkeeper James Trafford gifted him a close-range chance. Earlier, Brennan Johnson had given Spurs the lead in the 35th minute, finishing off a quick move from Richarlison’s assist.
The Portuguese midfielder said he was delighted to mark his debut with a goal, adding: “We deserved the victory. It was really important for us to get this victory, it wasn’t easy but we’re really happy. The coach showed me the project, it’s a great club. I’m really pleased to be back in the Premier League and I want to enjoy it again.”
Johnson, who opened the scoring, praised the team’s display, noting: “We played really well today, building on what we did last weekend. We knew it would be a challenge to come here, but a clean sheet and two goals made it perfect.”
Former England defender Joleon Lescott, analysing the game, said Tottenham were clearly superior. “They weren’t lucky today, they were the better team. They forced City into mistakes and capitalised on all of them.”
It was another memorable outing for Spurs at the Etihad. They won 4-0 at the same venue last season, and their latest triumph showed a more controlled and disciplined side under manager Thomas Frank, who praised his players’ bravery and organisation.
Manchester City created few clear chances, with Erling Haaland missing a golden opportunity late in the first half, while Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were denied by a resolute Spurs defence marshalled by Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
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