Man City vs Tottenham 0-2: Premier League – as it happened
All our updates, including our full text commentary, as Tottenham continue Manchester City’s woes at Etihad Stadium.
This page is now closed, but a summary of the match is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
This page is now closed, but a summary of the match is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
- Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 2-0 in the second round of matches in the English Premier League.
- The match at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom, saw Brennan Johnson tap home the opener with Joao Palhinha doubling the lead before the break.
- City recovered from a disastrous start to their title defence last season to claim third spot in the league.
- Spurs finished one place above the relegation zone but did lift the UEFA Europa League.
- Holders Liverpool continue their defence of the Premier League title at Newcastle United on Monday.
Keep up to date: Follow Al Jazeera Sport on our website and on X for the latest news, features and live events from around the globe.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
- 23 Aug 2025 - 15:20(15:20 GMT)
Goodbye for now!
That’s all for our live coverage of our Premier League game of the day.
Tottenham have done what Tottenham do – win at Manchester City.
Frank has continued his great start as Spurs manager with his team top of the league and yet to concede a goal.
Thanks for joining me, Adam Hancock, and my colleague Kevin Hand. Goodbye for now!
- 23 Aug 2025 - 15:05(15:05 GMT)
Man City 0-2 Spurs – the stats
Spurs are the first side to score 2+ goals in five consecutive top-flight away games against Man City since Sunderland between 1980 and 2000.#MCITOT pic.twitter.com/YsRFoob79a
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) August 23, 2025
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:50(14:50 GMT)
Half-time Premier League scores
These are the half-time scores in the 3pm (14:00 GMT) kickoffs in the Premier League:
Bournemouth 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
Burnley 0-0 SunderlandArsenal vs Leeds United kicks off at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT).
Advertisement - 23 Aug 2025 - 14:35(14:35 GMT)
Coming up on Al Jazeera Sport
There is plenty more football on the way this weekend, and Al Jazeera has you covered.
Tomorrow, we will bring you live coverage of Real Madrid’s first away game of the new La Liga season. Xabi Alonso’s side travel to Oviedo and that game kicks off at 9:30pm in Spain (19:30 GMT).
Then on Monday evening, there is a thrilling game in the Premier League as Newcastle United host Liverpool in what is sure to be a tasty affair.
We’ll have comprehensive coverage of that match, which kicks off at 8:00pm (19:00 GMT).
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:20(14:20 GMT)
Our Man City-Tottenham match report is live
Click here to read our full match report following the game at Etihad Stadium.
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:16(14:16 GMT)
Fabulous start for Frank
Games: Two
Wins: Two
Goals conceded: Zero pic.twitter.com/XJXLaeeObp— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 23, 2025
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:14(14:14 GMT)
‘It was a bit better than the result’
Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the television cameras after that difficult afternoon for Manchester City:
“I had a feeling it was a bit better than the result. We started well, but conceded a goal and with the simple things we lost the quality.”
Despite the nature of the defeat, Guardiola took a fairly pragmatic view regarding the rest of the season. “The result is not good, but it is a long, long way to go, and we will learn from that.”
He was also asked about the injury which forced Ait-Nouri off in the first half, but had little information to provide. “I don’t know, I didn’t speak with the doctors yet,” said Guardiola.
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:08(14:08 GMT)
Elsewhere in the Premier League
Three more games have just got under way, and there has been an early goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth lead Wolves 1-0 through a Marcus Tavernier goal.
Elsewhere, its goalless between Burnely and Sunderland at Turf Moor and Brentford and Aston Villa in West London.
- 23 Aug 2025 - 14:06(14:06 GMT)
Photos: How the managers saw it
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, during the Premier League match [Shaun Botterill/Getty Images] Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish head coach, Thomas Frank, shouts instructions to the players from the touchline as Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola, far right, looks on [Darren Staples/AFP] Advertisement - 23 Aug 2025 - 14:05(14:05 GMT)
‘We were solid and had a top mentality’: Frank praises his Spurs side
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has also been speaking with TNT Sports. Here is what he had to say:
On winning at City: “It is one of the most difficult places to go – to a City side that need to bounce back from next season. I think before our goal, they were more on top, but we stayed in it and were solid and had a top mentality. After the goal, we were more or less the better side, and I am very impressed with how we stepped up in the second half.”
On what the team has learned from defeat to PSG in the Super Cup: “It is now 10 days later, so we had the learning from that game and the high press was consistently good in the second half, and they struggled to get out of that.”
On what he found when he arrived at Spurs: “I found a very strong mentality in the players – a group that had been through a tough season which ended on a high. They had a great mentality in many ways and we had to build on it.”
On facing more scrutiny at Spurs: “Of course I am aware of it but I am not on social media – I don’t think it does any good to anyone. I read very little in the media as it doesn’t give me any good, half of it is wrong and half is clickbait and I love football, but the other bits I don’t care.”
On the final days of the transfer window: “We have a strong squad and group of players that we believe a lot in. Of course, we would like to add a bit, but only if it can strengthen the squad. I know the club is working very hard and I trust them.”
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:55(13:55 GMT)
More Tottenham misery for City
Manchester City have won just one of their last four home games against Tottenham.
Last season was 0-4, so perhaps this was an improvement?
Spurs win at Etihad Stadium! ⚪️👊 pic.twitter.com/Y6WF93Ft9p
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 23, 2025
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:47(13:47 GMT)
Photos: More images from the game
Tottenham Hotspur’s Joao Palhinha in action with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland [Peter Powell/Reuters] Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush in action [Jason Cairnduff/Reuters] Tottenham Hotspur’s Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha, second left, celebrates scoring the team’s second goal with Tottenham Hotspur’s Welsh forward Brennan Johnson, left, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Spanish defender Pedro Porro, right, during the English Premier League match [Darren Staples/AFP] Jeremy Doku of Manchester City crosses the ball while under pressure from Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur [Clive Mason/Getty Images] - 23 Aug 2025 - 13:43(13:43 GMT)
‘We deserve the victory’
Johnson and Palhinha have been giving their instant reaction to that victory at the Etihad. Here is what they have told TNT Sports:
Johnson on today’s win: “I am really pleased. I think we played really well today and we built on what we did last weekend. To come here and get a clean sheet and score some goals is perfect.”
Palhinha on winning at City: “We deserve the victory. We won with a lot of credit, and we deserve this result. It’s really important for us to keep this clean sheet, and we are all happy with this victory.”
Palhinha on why he signed with Spurs: “First of all, the coach pushed me to come here and showed me the project he has here. After that, it was the club. It is such a great club, and I am really glad to be in the Premier League again. I am so happy, and now I want to enjoy this top club.”
Johnson on playing under Frank: “I am really enjoying it. A lot of detail goes into the set pieces, but at the same time, he gives us a lot of freedom in attacking areas. It’s a really good balance we have got going on.”
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:35(13:35 GMT)
Manchester magic for Spurs
Frank is celebrating with his players after that fantastic away performance.
Spurs win their opening two league games for the first time since 2021.
Tottenham would happily play at the Etihad every week.
Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad 😏 pic.twitter.com/b6Zvfd5Byb
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 23, 2025
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:31(13:31 GMT)
Full-time
Spurs have once again won all three points in Manchester.
A dream start for Frank. Tottenham are top without a goal conceded.
Full-time: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Thomas Frank, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, interacts with Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, following the Premier League match [Clive Mason/Getty Images] - 23 Aug 2025 - 13:29(13:29 GMT)
Trafford keeps the scoreline down
The away fans are cheering every Tottenham pass now.
What a start this has been for Frank.
It almost gets even better as Trafford makes two late saves from Solanke and Odobert. Good stuff from the City keeper on a difficult day.
90+3 mins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:27(13:27 GMT)
Four minutes added on
Palhinha makes way for Kevin Danso as the game enters stoppage time in Manchester.
90+1 mins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:25(13:25 GMT)
Time to say goodbye
Foden wastes a promising Manchester City free kick as he launches the ball straight at the Tottenham wall.
A fair number of the home fans are heading for the exits. They might skip Tottenham at home next season.
89 mins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City fans leave the stadium before the end of the match [Jason Cairnduff/Reuters] - 23 Aug 2025 - 13:23(13:23 GMT)
Tottenham keep it tight
Great defending from Romero, who charges Lewis down after he hesitates on the edge of the Tottenham area.
Spurs are almost home.
87 mins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
- 23 Aug 2025 - 13:22(13:22 GMT)
Kudus subbed off
City win a corner after Porro blocks a cross from Doku.
Spurs make a change ahead of it, with Kudus coming off for Lucas Bergvall.
Foden then whips the corner in – but Spurs deal with the danger.
86 mins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur