Tottenham Hotspur continued their sturdy begin to the season by defeating Manchester Metropolis 2-0 on the Etihad Stadium to safe their second triumph of the Premier League marketing campaign.
The North London membership have grown into one thing of a nemesis for Metropolis lately, with this success marking their third victory of their final 5 visits to the blue aspect of Manchester—amongst them a 4-0 demolition final November throughout Guardiola’s aspect’s well-documented dip.
Remarkably, this marked solely the sixth occasion throughout Pep Guardiola’s tenure by which Metropolis trailed by two or extra objectives on the Etihad at half-time, with Spurs liable for half of these occurrences.
Tottenham punished Metropolis with ruthless precision on the break, as Brennan Johnson completed off a counterattack earlier than Joao Palhinha sealed the win in first-half stoppage time following a howler from James Trafford.
Thomas Frank’s aspect made positive to subdue Metropolis’s attacking sharpness that had produced 4 objectives in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers final weekend.
Central to Tottenham’s success was the reliable Palhinha, who has readjusted to Premier League soccer seamlessly. The midfielder’s urgent was distinctive, incessantly stepping up past probably the most superior Spurs presser regardless of being stationed deepest of their midfield setup.
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Palhinha registered 4 tackles within the contest, which lifted his complete within the Premier League to 304 for the reason that starting of the 2022–23 marketing campaign. In that interval, simply two gamers have managed extra tackles than the Portuguese midfielder—and that’s regardless of the actual fact he didn’t even spend all the stretch competing within the division.
His celebration of an important second-half block carried even larger ardour than the end itself, reflecting his insatiable urge for food for the defensive aspect of the sport.
The 30-year-old received 8 duels and made 4 tackles, probably the most by any Tottenham participant within the sport in opposition to Metropolis. He was additionally essential for Frank’s off-ball ways, as he received possession twice and made 2 clearances in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s aspect.
Palhinha will savour the prospect to return to Roberto Martinez’s possession-based nationwide staff squad after displaying a formidable efficiency on the ball in opposition to Metropolis. The Portugal worldwide made 40 touches in opposition to the Cityzens, together with two of their field, whereas additionally capping off his combative efficiency to seal the win on the stroke of half-time.
Tottenham will hope to make it three wins in a row once they face Bournemouth at house on Saturday, thirtieth August.
