The Manchester City avenged the insult of the Champions League beating by the minimum to a defensive Tottenham Hotspur with a goal by Phil Foden (1-0). The cityzens continue approaching the league title and took an important step to win in one of the most complicated meetings that remain in the calendar, even more, after what happened last Wednesday in this same Etihad Stadium.
After the victory that did not serve to Pep Guardiola to get into the semifinals of the Champions, the Spanish coach introduced changes in the eleven minute god and the Foden squad, in addition to John Stones and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defense.
City have one more point than Liverpool in the standings
With the madness of the European game still in the retina, Tottenham raised a much more defensive game than few days ago. Pochettino lined up five defenders. Ben Davies and Juan Foyth as long backs and Davinson Sánchez, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen as central.
A much more protective plan that Pochettino broke down after four minutes. Backing out, Bernardo Silva found the space to put a measured center at the far post that Agüero left on his head so that young Foden, on a plate, pushed the net. Broken ice and Tottenham scheme, the spurs had to step forward and enjoyed several contras, at the feet of Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen, to match the contest.
Guardiola did not go crazy, knowing that a 1-0 was just as good, a posteriori, that a 2-0 or a 3-0 and that Tottenham need to add to be able to continue in the struggle for ‘Champions’ was going to force them to risk and leave spaces behind.
The few loopholes granted by the indecisive celestial defense were used by Son, who just before the break had a heads-up well repelled by Ederson. Before he had retired from the field, injured muscularly, Kevin de Bruyne, subtracting magic and providing stability to the middle of the City with the entry of Fernandinho.
And that was noticed in a second part in which the control of the City increased, nipping in the bud the dangerous contras of Tottenham. The occasions disappeared from the map until Leroy Sané jumped into the field and allowed Sterling to be on the point of the second, meeting with Paulo Gazzaniga. Ederson wanted his reply and became the hero of the City to take the umpteenth hand to hand, this time to Lucas Moura. The triumph allows City to overcome, momentarily, Liverpool, who will play this Sunday against Cardiff City, and outscore him in a point with four games to play the celestes.
