City Stumble At Etihad As Tottenham Claim 2-0 Victory

Manchester City hosted Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on 23 August 2025, with kick-off at 12:30pm in front of a crowd of 54,000. The Premier League clash ended in disappointment for the hosts as Tottenham secured a 2-0 win, leaving City to reflect on a frustrating afternoon.

Pep Guardiola’s side lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, aiming to control the midfield and press high. James Trafford started in goal, protected by a back four of Rico Lewis at right-back, John Stones and Ruben Dias as central defenders, and Rayan Aït-Nouri on the left. Nico González operated as the solitary holding midfielder, tasked with breaking up play and distributing from deep. Ahead of him, the attacking midfield quartet featured Oscar Bobb on the right, Rayan Cherki centrally, Tijani Reijnders alongside him, and Omar Marmoush on the left, all supporting lone striker Erling Haaland. The substitutes bench included Nathan Aké, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, and Rodri Hernández.

The match took an early twist when Rayan Aït-Nouri was replaced by Nathan Aké after just 23 minutes, an unexpected change that hinted at either injury or tactical adjustment. Tottenham capitalised on the disruption, breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The visitors doubled their advantage just before half-time, scoring again in the 45th minute to leave City trailing at the break.

At half-time, the scoreline read 2-0 to Tottenham, a deficit Manchester City would struggle to overturn despite their efforts. Early in the second period, City made a double substitution in the 54th minute, bringing on Bernardo Silva for Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku for Omar Marmoush, signalling a shift towards more creativity and pace in attack.

Nico González received a yellow card in the 70th minute, a caution that reflected the increasing intensity and pressure City were under as they pushed for a way back into the game. Further changes followed in the 75th minute with Phil Foden replacing Oscar Bobb and Rodri Hernández coming on for the booked González, as Guardiola sought fresh legs and control in midfield.

Despite these adjustments, City were unable to find a breakthrough. Tottenham’s defence held firm, and the visitors managed to see out the game to secure a valuable 2-0 victory at the Etihad. Rayan Cherki was named player of the match for his efforts in midfield before being substituted, highlighting his influence despite the team’s defeat.

The result leaves Manchester City with much to ponder as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures, while Tottenham will take confidence from a disciplined and effective performance on the road.