Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester City
The 60,000 fans in attendance at the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had the perfect European night in their new home as they beat Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Heung-Min Son’s late strike was enough to separate the two sides on a tense night in North London, which gives Mauricio Pochettino’s side a slender lead to take to the Etihad Stadium next week.
We’re tracking the Manchester City’s quadruple bid all the way here at SBOBET, and despite tonight’s setback, it’s still very much on. Pep Guardiola will have his players ready for the return leg.
Highlights of the game
Sergio Aguero handed his boss a boost with his return to the starting line-up after being out since the Sky Blues’ victory over Fulham, while Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane began on the bench.
Aguero was immediately thrown into the action on 11 minutes as VAR took centre stage. Raheem Sterling made a good run before firing a shot in, which ricocheted off Danny Rose’s arm and away.
There was nothing Rose could do to get out of the way of the ball but VAR spoke and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Aguero, and there was a small slice of justice when Hugo Lloris saved his spot kick.
Spurs fans are hoping the move to their new home will lift their side from promising up-and-comers to a real force in European football, and the stadium erupted when Lloris made his save.
The game settled into a pattern of careful possession dominated by Manchester City. Neither team troubled the opposite goalkeeper again until the 24th minute. Quick thinking from Christian Eriksen – playing on after Dele Alli was fouled — gave Harry Kane a chance, but he shot too close to Ederson.
Danny Rose tested Ederson with a free-kick from a tight angle, and that was the only other shot on target in the first half.
The Sky Blues had a flurry of early corners in the second half. But it was Spurs who got another chance when Harry Kane slid the ball into the path of Heung-Min Son, who brought out another save from Ederson.
There were groans around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 55 minutes when Harry Kane clashed with Fabian Delph and came off worse as they both slid off the pitch.
Kane limped off and was replaced by Lucas Moura. Then, Gabriel Jesus came on to replace Aguero with 20 minutes to go.
City came close on 76 minutes when Sterling fed David Silva and the Spaniard shot from 20 yards, only for Harry Winks to make a vital block.
And Winks’ effort was rewarded two minutes later when Spurs went ahead. Eriksen passed to Son and looked like he’d taken the ball too wide. But he cut back and smashed his shot past Ederson to spark bedlam in the new Stadium.
Pep threw De Bruyne and Sane on in the 89th minute and De Bruyne got round the back of the Spurs defence, but Lloris smothered the danger as the hosts held on and their fans erupted again.
Key Statistics
Manchester City swept into the last eight of the Champions League with a 7-0 mauling of FC Schalke (10-2 on aggregate) but this was a much tougher test and one which has left their chances of progressing in the balance.
The Champions League 2019 betting odds had Guardiola’s team as tournament favourites, marginally ahead of Barcelona, but that could change this week.
Spurs’ win ended a run of four consecutive defeats to the Sky Blues and also ended a run of six straight away wins for City.
Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last seven games at home and Son’s goal was his 18th of the season in all competitions, matching his haul from last season.
What’s next?
Before the return leg at the Etihad next week, Manchester City have a tricky away league game at Crystal Palace. Roy Hodgson’s Eagles are just about safe now and can play with freedom. Tonight’s result might just make that game a little tougher.
The Sky Blues are two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League, with a game in hand. But the Reds have a huge match at home to Chelsea.
The Blues are battling for a top-four place along with Spurs. Tonight’s Champions League 2019 updates from Anfield told the story of a comfortable win for Liverpool so all in all a good night for Jurgen Klopp.
Meanwhile, Spurs have a home game against the bottom club and already relegated Huddersfield Town. That’s about as good as it gets as they prepare for the second half of this European epic.
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