When Tottenham Hotspur plays Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, there’s always drama.
Two seasons ago, Spurs defeated Manchester United 3-2 thanks to a late header from Harry Kane. However, the previous season, Spurs gave up a two-goal lead in the same match after a strong second-half comeback from the triple winners.
The goals were always expected to flow at the Etihad Stadium once again on Sunday, although plenty of Tottenham fans believed that the champions would put on a show and run riot given the Lilywhites’ recent run of three successive defeats coupled with their injury situation. However, Spurs once again left Guardiola frustrated after Dejan Kulusevski’s late header rounded off a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Tottenham maybe did get away with one going on the chances Erling Haaland passed up and also because the frame of their goal was rattled a few times, not that Ange Postecoglou and his players are complaining. The game did see the return of Yves Bissouma to the Spurs team after completing his one-match suspension for five yellow cards in the Premier League
Without Rodrigo Bentancur after the ankle ligament injury he sustained in the previous game against Aston Villa, it was a very simple decision for the head coach with the Mali international replacing his teammate in the side. Outstanding for Spurs in the opening weeks of the season and recapturing the form that saw him wow at Brighton & Hove Albion on a consistent basis after such a poor first year in N17, Bissouma’s form has tailed off recently.
Perhaps impacted by having a one-match ban hanging over his head for quite some time, Spurs haven’t seen the best of the 27-year-old since prior to his red card in the 1-0 win over Luton Town at the beginning of October.
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