MANCHESTER CITY kept up their majestic league form with a brilliant 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham at the Etihad on Saturday evening.
Rodri opened the scoring with a penalty before the in-form Ilkay Gundogan scored another TWO goals for Pep Guardiola’s side.
- RESULT: Man City 3-0 Tottenham
- Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Bernardo, Sterling (C), Foden, Jesus
- Tottenham XI: Lloris, Tanganga, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Lamela, Lucas, Son, Kane
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THAT’S ALL FROM THE ETIHAD!
Manchester City picked up an impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham at the Etihad.
Spurs almost opened the scoring early on into the match with Harry Kane’s free-kick from 20-odd yards, which rattled Ederson’s bar.
But City were the ones to break the deadlock after 23 minutes with a hotly-disputed penalty that Rodri converted when he barely beat Hugo Lloris, who got a touch of the ball.
Ilkay Gundogan went down inside the box following challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who did have contact with the City star – the referee deemed that to be a penalty.
The Citizens started strong in the second half and doubled their lead with the in-form Gundogan, who scored his 10th league goal of the season following a beautiful one-two with Raheem Sterling after 50 minutes.
The Germany international completed a brace just 16 minutes later when he picked up a beautiful ball from Ederson all the way from the keeper’s own box and beat Lloris for the second time
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GUARDIOLA REACTION
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised Tottenham as he described them as an “exceptional team” and insisted that Ilkay Gungogan’s knock will be checked tomorrow.
Guardiola told Sky Sports: “We beat an exceptional team. They hit the post, in a situation which can change the game, and the last action from Gareth Bale, but they didn’t [create] anything else, so that is so good in terms of defensive commitment.
“And in terms of the way we were playing with the ball was really good, especially in the second half. Another victory, important against a good team, and we continue our good rhythm.
“We will see tomorrow [about Gundogan’s injury]. He said it was nothing, it was tight, but we will see tomorrow, day after tomorrow.”
“The [penalty] taker was not good. We were lucky! I love and admire the courage to take it but it was not a good taker, we were lucky!”
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ED-CELLENT FINISH
Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan scored an impressive brace against Tottenham.
But Gundogan’s second goal would have never occurred without Ederson’s incredible cross all the way from his box.
That could go down as the best assist of the season!
Enjoy:
MORE MOURINHO REACTION
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho announced that star forward Son Heung-min suffered a wound in his ankle and suggested that should have led to a booking.
Mourinho said: “He has a wound in his ankle. A wound means a stud. A stud in the ankle means a card. I don’t think a red. Hopefully nothing big and that’s it.”
The Portuguese manager was also pleased with Gareth Bale’s performance, considering he only had one training session with the team.
Mourinho added: “I think he was ok. Of course one training session with the team. No problems after the match. Let’s see if he can play Thursday or next week.”
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MOURINHO REACTION
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho praised his players despite the heavy defeat to Manchester City.
Mourinho claimed City defeated a “very tired team” at the Etihad.
As for the Citizens’ controversial spot-kick, the Spurs manager described it as a “modern penalty”.
Here’s what Mourinho had to say:
RODRI ON PENALTY
Manchester City star Rodri admitted he was “a bit angry” before taking on the penalty kick in the first half.
The City ace told Sky Sports: “I was a bit angry the last weeks because we missed many penalties, more than we expect.
“In big games you have to score penalties. I said in the week the next penalty I would take.
“I grabbed the ball and nobody took it off me”
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MAN OF STEEL
We told you Manchester City have the best defence in all of the Premier League.
City have only conceded a mere 14 goals in 23 league matches so far this season.
But there’s more, the Citizens haven’t trailed at all in their last 15 Premier League games.
Absolute domination!
UPDATED TABLE
Manchester City have increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
City are now first with a game in hand and seven points ahead of second-placed Leicester.
Tottenham remain eighth, just four points away from Liverpool and the top four.
The Citizens seem to be slowly but steadily marching towards the title
STATS
Manchester City were superior throughout the encounter as they controlled 61 per cent of possession.
City produced a total of nine shots, six of which were on target, whereas Tottenham managed four, three of which were on target.
The Citizens also stood out in terms of passing as they completed 691 passes, compared to Spurs’ 443.
That was indeed a very well-deserved win for City!
OPTA STATS
FT: MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
Manchester City picked up a dominant victory over Tottenham at the Etihad.
Spurs almost handed City an early shocker with Harry Kane’s incredible free-kick from 20-odd yards, which rattled Ederson’s post.
But City were the ones who opened the scoring after 23 minutes when Rodri barely beat Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot.
That spot-kick was hotly-disputed as Ilkay Gundogan was brought down following a challenge from Emile-Pierre Hojbjerg, who did have contact with the City star.
City started strong in the second half and doubled the lead after 50 minutes when Raheem Sterling read Gundogan’s brilliant movement inside the box, which led to his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
Gundogan completed a brace 16 minutes later when he picked up a brilliant pass from Ederson all the way back from the City keeper’s goal line; that could go down as the best assist of the season.
The Germany international found himself in front of Lloris and beat him for the second time.
The star midfielder didn’t get to complete his hat-trick as he picked up a knock and was substituted
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PEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S IT FROM THE ETIHAD!!!!!!!!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
90+2 YELLOW CARD
Davies gets booked for a foul on Mahrez, who was on the counter-attack
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
90 Three more minutes of stoppage time to go at the Etihad.
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
90 CHANCE!
Silva fires a powerful shot on the edge of the box but Lloris saves it.
City are not done with Tottenham yet!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
89 WHAT A CHANCE!
Sterling fires a shot just in front of Lloris but the Tottenham keeper makes the save with his feet!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
88 City have slowed down as they don’t want to risk any injuries or fatigue.
Last few minutes are just a formality anyway…
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
85 Tempo has slowed down at the Etihad as City have their victory sealed.
But there’s still plenty of time for a fourth goal, and the Citizens are very capable of adding to Tottenham’s sorrows
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
81 WHAT A CHANCE!
Bale picks up the ball and dribbles everyone in sight before delivering a wonderful shot, which Ederson just manages to save.
What a lovely trip down memory lane, that is the Bale we all remember and admire!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
80 SUBSTITUTION
Mahrez takes Jesus’ place for the last 10 minutes of the game
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
79 Son goes down following a challenge with Cancelo.
The Tottenham star requires treatment and so the game comes to a pause!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
77 YELLOW CARD
Dier gets cautioned for a foul close to Tottenham’s box.
Thankfully for Spurs, nothing comes of the free-kick
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
74 Gundogan is already being compared to fellow German legends like Uwe Rosler and Jurgen Klinsmann before him!
What a player…!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
73 SUBSTITUTION
Another change from Mourinho, who brings Bale onto the pitch!
The Real Madrid loanee takes Lamela’s place
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
72 CHANCE
Foden picks up Kane’s poor clearance and fires a shot.
However, the ball goes straight to Lloris!
MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 TOTTENHAM
70 Gundogan has been an absolute stand-out player this year!
So what if Aguero and Jesus can’t play? So what if De Bruyne is injured?
Guardiola is totally covered!
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
