Spurs return from the edge of the abyss and hand City a massive blow
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Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 01.02.26. | 21:40
Although the Cityzens were 2-0 up at the break, Tottenham in the end salvaged a 2-2 draw behind Solanke's brace, and even had a chance to win the game
After an absolutely wild duel between Tottenham and Manchester City, the most satisfied team will be Arsenal, as their neighbours handed a major blow to the Cityzens in the title race.
A draw against the Spurs wouldn't be such a poor result in general, but Pep Guardiola's men were 2-0 up at the break thanks to Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo's goals, while totally crushing the rivals.
And then, their game plan collapsed, and their performance became just a shadow of their first-half performance. Thomas Frank's men knew how to exploit it.
Between the 57th and 70th minutes, the home team levelled with a brace from Dominic Solanke, including a tremendous "scorpion kick". In the end, Gianluigi Donnarumma had to come to the Cityzens' rescue with a couple of vital saves, which kept at least a point in the Manchester side's pocket - 2-2.
Spurs battle back from two goals down to earn a point against Man City 👏
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 1, 2026
Dominic Solanke equalising with a stunning scorpion kick finish 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ld9tZEtGe3
City broke the deadlock from their maiden opportunity of the game in the 11th minute. Yves Bissouma lost the ball near the halfway line to Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland continued the attack, finding Rayan Cherki, who made a short solo run, moved the ball to his right, and placed it into Guglielmo Vicario's bottom-right corner, as if he were in a training session, without Spurs' defender Radu Dragusin even trying to block him.
In the 24th minute, the Frenchman once again sprinkled magic all over the pitch, ran rings around Cristian Romero and Dragusin, making them look ridiculous, but Vicario pulled off a superb save, depriving Cherki of a brace.
However, what City's #10 failed to do midway through the first half, Antoine Semenyo accomplished 20 minutes later. Tottenham's tragic figure Dragusin poorly cleared the ball from his box, allowing the Cityzens to organize a three-move action, started by Rodri, continued by Bernardo, and finished by the Ghanaian, for a peaceful half-time break in the visitors' locker room.
On the other hand, the Spurs were quite harmless. Even when they had space to threaten, they made bad decisions or were slow - first and foremost, their playmaker Xavi Simons - which significantly eased City's job.
In the 51st minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma made his first save in the game, and the Italian made sure it was outstanding, stopping Destiny Udogie's dangerous close-range effort. However, Gigio couldn't do anything two minutes later, when Dominic Solanke exploited Simons' great pass and scored with a slight help of Marc Guehi, as Tottenham pulled one back!
At that point, the visitors seemed to have lost control of the match, while Spurs' boss Thomas Frank's move at the break (when he replaced the centre-back Romero with the midfielder Pape Matar Sarr) felt spot on.
Yet, it wasn't the end of Spurs offensive dominance, as Solanke made sure his display became memorable, scoring a screamer 17 minutes later, finding the net with a superb "scorpion kick" and returning the game to the square one!
Had it not been for the terrific Donnarumma, Wilson Odobert and Simons would have completed Tottenham's comeback, while City looked completely lost on the pitch and nothing like the team from the first 45 minutes.
In the end, the rivals shared spoils, as Arsenal increased their lead over City to six points. At the same time, Spurs got a decent confidence boost and gave their fans hope that better times are ahead of their club.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 24
Saturday
Brighton - Everton 1-1 (0-0)
/Gross 73 - Beto 90+7/
Wolves - Bournemouth 0-2 (0-1)
/Kroupi 33, Scott 90+1/
Leeds United - Arsenal 0-3 (0-2)
/Zubimendi 27, Darlow og 38, Gyokeres 69/
Chelsea - West Ham 3-2 (0-2)
/Pedro 57, Cucurella 70, Enzo F. 90+2 - Bowen 7, Summerville 36/
Liverpool - Newcastle 4-1 (2-1)
/Ekitike 41,43, Wirtz 67, Konate 90+3 - Gordon 36/
Sunday
Aston Villa - Brentford 0-1 (0-1)
/Outtara 45+1/
Manchester United - Fulham 3-2 (1-0)
/Casemiro 19, Cunha 56, Sesko 90+4 - Jimenez 85 pen, Kevin 90+1/
Nottingham Forest - Crystal Palace 1-1 (1-1)
/Gibbs-White 5 - Sarr 45+2 pen/
Tottenham - Manchester City 2-2 (0-2)
/Solanke 53, 70 - Cherki 11, Semenyo 44/
Monday
23.00: (1.80) Sunderland (3.70) Burnley (4.90)
***odds are subject to change***
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