Tottenham Hotspur delivered a stunning performance to beat Manchester City 2–0 at the Etihad Stadium, continuing their perfect start to the Premier League season under new manager Thomas Frank.
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute, when Brennan Johnson connected with Richarlison’s low cross to power home a first-time finish. Though initially flagged offside, the goal stood after a VAR review confirmed Richarlison was onside.
Just before halftime, on 45+2 minutes, João Palhinha capitalized on a costly error by City goalkeeper James Trafford. His short pass inside the box was intercepted, leading to a well-taken finish for Spurs’ second. Palhinha, making his first Premier League start, impressed with both goal and midfield dominance.
Despite dominating possession, City struggled to carve out meaningful chances in the second half. Spurs soaked up the pressure with discipline and composure to secure a clean sheet and full points.
Manager Thomas Frank hailed the performance as a statement of Spurs’ revitalized identity—organized, determined, and effective—underscoring their goal-scoring efficiency and defensive resilience in what was a high-profile victory. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola defended his decision to stick with Trafford but admitted the error weighed heavily on the result.
