Manchester City suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2025, in a Premier League clash that highlighted Tottenham’s effective pressing and sharp finishing. Tottenham’s goals came from Brennan Johnson in the 35th minute and João Palhinha in added time before halftime, who scored on his Premier League debut for Spurs.
The match saw an early setback for City with left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri forced off due to an ankle injury, replaced by Nathan Ake. Man City’s goalkeeper James Trafford, making only his second start, had a difficult game marked by a crucial error late in the first half, which Tottenham capitalized on to double their lead. Guardiola’s side struggled to maintain possession and cohesion under the intense Tottenham press, with key players like Rico Lewis and Nico Gonzalez losing the ball frequently.
Tottenham’s head coach Thomas Frank repeated his squad’s success in using a high pressing strategy that disrupted City’s rhythm, building on their previous 4-0 victory at the same venue last season. Palhinha’s contribution in midfield, both defensively and offensively, was especially praised for its tenacity and tactical discipline.
Pep Guardiola acknowledged Tottenham as tough opponents and emphasized that the current season is a fresh start despite City’s struggles against Spurs in recent meetings. The loss points to areas City will need to address, especially in defensive coordination and maintaining composure under pressing.
Tottenham started their Premier League campaign with two wins and currently sit atop the league table, while Manchester City have one win and one loss after two matches.
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