Tottenham Hotspur have established a reputation as one of Manchester City’s trickiest opponents in recent years. Despite City’s dominance in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola, Spurs have consistently managed to frustrate them.
Indeed, even with the north Londoners regularly changing managers in the last few seasons, whoever has taken charge of the Lilywhites has proven to throw a wrench into City’s well-oiled machine.
Their upcoming Premier League clash will be a pivotal moment, both for Ange Postecoglou’s hopes of breaking into the top four and for City’s quest to reignite their season after an unusually mixed start —one that sees Man City vs Spurs odds closer than usual.
City finally managed to earn a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the penultimate game of last season, moving within three points of the title.
That match, secured with Erling Haaland’s two crucial goals and some inspired saves from deputy goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, provided City a much-needed edge as they closed in on their fourth straight Premier League crown. Yet Spurs, even in defeat, showed grit and resilience that highlighted the ongoing challenge they present for City—a pattern that has recurred over the last few years.
Perhaps the most memorable clash came in the 2018-19 Champions League quarterfinals. After a 1-0 win in the first leg at their new stadium, Tottenham headed to the Etihad for an unforgettable second leg.
The game was a whirlwind of goals, VAR decisions, and late drama that ultimately saw Spurs edge City on away goals after a 4-3 defeat, ending 4-4 on aggregate.
A disallowed stoppage-time “winner” from Raheem Sterling added to the heartbreak for Guardiola’s side and marked a significant milestone for Tottenham on their way to the Champions League final, though they fell short in upsetting a bet on football when they were beaten by Liverpool.
In the Premier League, Tottenham have been especially hard to beat at home. Guardiola has struggled to find success at Spurs' grounds, with City suffering multiple defeats there since 2019.
Another standout moment came in early 2022, when Son Heung-Min’s clinical goal secured a 1-0 win at the Etihad, opening up the title race and breathing life back into Liverpool’s pursuit of the top spot.
Whether it was Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, or Antonio Conte at the helm, Spurs have managed to consistently outperform expectations against City, exploiting their defensive shape and using counter-attacks to devastating effect.
Even this season, Spurs resumed their role as City’s bogey team by knocking them out of the League Cup. Postecoglou, aiming to end Tottenham’s trophy drought, guided his side to a 2-1 victory that sets up a quarter-final clash with Manchester United.
Timo Werner scored early, with Pape Sarr doubling Tottenham’s lead with a stunning strike from 25 yards. Despite a late first-half goal from Matheus Nunes and more heroics from Ortega, Spurs held on, thanks in part to Yves Bissouma’s crucial block on the line in the dying moments.
These results add even more intrigue to the next Premier League clash between the two sides. While City’s sights are set on securing another title, Spurs under Postecoglou have shown they’re prepared to disrupt the status quo, and their victory in the League Cup only amplifies the stakes.
As City’s form has fluctuated this season, their pursuit of a fifth consecutive title is far from guaranteed. A loss to Tottenham would not only boost Spurs’ top-four ambitions but could also push City further from the top spot before a decisive trip to Anfield.