Laying down what was an actual heavyweight marker on Saturday lunchtime, Tottenham secured a deserved 2-0 victory away at Manchester Metropolis.
Storming their technique to an iconic 4-0 Premier League romp after they final travelled to the Etihad again in November, new boss Thomas Frank noticed his facet produce one other sensational efficiency within the blue half of Manchester.
Absorbing some early strain, it was Brennan Johnson who opened the scoring within the Thirty fifth-minute because the Wales worldwide tapped dwelling on the far submit and accomplished a free-flowing assault.
Issues obtained even higher for Tottenham simply seconds earlier than the half-time break as Spurs pounced on James Trafford’s free move inside his personal field earlier than summer season recruit Joao Palhinha smashed dwelling.
Whereas Pep Guardiola might need made a string of alterations all through the second-half and continually tinkered along with his formation, the Sky Blues drastically failed to search out any type of fluidity within the last third.
Crashing again all the way down to earth after opening the brand new marketing campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory away at Wolves final weekend, Metropolis had been as soon as once more at their inconsistent worst right here.
On a day when Tottenham deserved each the entire plaudits and the entire factors, we’ve got taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors from Saturday’s showdown on the Etihad.
Frank’s north London journey off to a dream begin
Struggling Tremendous Cup heartbreak on August thirteenth as they suffered a serious last-gasp collapse in opposition to PSG, many had been questioning if Spurs would present any indicators of a hangover when opening up the 2025/26 marketing campaign final weekend.
Nevertheless, regardless of solely simply getting a brand new period underway in north London, Tottenham have loved a sensational begin to life below Frank’s steering and so they have come flying out the traps in some fashion.
Getting proceedings underway with a routine 3-0 victory in opposition to Premier League returners Burnley, the previous Brentford boss noticed his new look squad lay down a serious marker on Saturday lunchtime.
Regardless of travelling to the Etihad pencilled in as an actual underdog, Frank’s facet dominated giant spells and had been a greater than worthy winner within the blue half of Manchester this weekend.
With their Champions League return on the horizon and at the least briefly climbing to the highest of the desk following Saturday’s deserved 2-0 win, it seems that the temper in Frank’s squad is at a red-hot excessive.
Inconsistencies nonetheless there for Metropolis
Whereas Manchester Metropolis might need been compelled to accept a bronze medal end amongst England’s elite again in Could as they signed off the 2024/25 marketing campaign with no single piece of silverware to indicate for his or her troubles, Guardiola’s males did head into the summer season break within the midst of an actual flurry.
Mustering 16 factors from their last six Premier League appearances, the Sky Blues additionally opened proceedings with a thumping 4-0 victory away at Wolves final weekend.
Nevertheless, though the previous champions might need opened up the brand new marketing campaign with their sights firmly set on recapturing their Premier League crown, it was extra inconstancies for Metropolis right here.
Failing to search out any type of attacking fluidity and with the record-breaking Erling Haaland a spectator for giant spells, Guardiola is greater than conscious that loads of work nonetheless must be accomplished.
Regardless of as soon as once more breaking the financial institution this summer season as they’ve spent north of £100million, Metropolis’s new superstars are nonetheless looking for their toes and so they have the texture of a squad who’re unfamiliar with one another.
Johnson underlines his worth to Frank’s squad
Finishing a £45million transfer again in the summertime of 2023, it’s honest to say that Johnson endured what was a tough begin to life in north London.
Receiving loads of public on-line abuse from Tottenham supporters throughout his preliminary tenure within the capital, many had been questioning the place the Wales worldwide would slot in amongst Frank’s new look Spurs squad.
Nevertheless, regardless of being left as an unused substitute throughout Tottenham’s Tremendous Cup showdown in opposition to PSG earlier within the month, Johnson has loved a sensational begin to his new home marketing campaign.
Claiming Tottenham’s Golden Boot final season after notching 11 Premier League objectives, the previous Nottingham Forest starlet has additionally discovered the web in each of his opening appearances this time round.
With Frank full of reward for the 24-year-old following Saturday’s 2-0 victory on the Etihad, Johnson has as soon as once more underlined standing as a key member of Frank’s squad this season.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Bobb, Cherki, Reijnders, Marmouch, Haaland
Subs: Ake, Rodri, Foden, Silva, Doku
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Palhinha, Bentancur, Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson
Subs: Odobert, Bergvall, Solanke, Danso
Objectives: Johnson (35’), Palhinha (45+2’)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester Metropolis: Gonzalez – Tottenham: Romero, Porro, Jonson, Richarlison
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Peter Bankes
