On Saturday, from 17:30, Tottenham receives the visit of Manchester City, in the 9th round of the Premier League. It is a special tactical duel, played between two managers who know each other very well: Jose Mourinho on the London bench, and Pep Guardiola, the leader of the “citizens”.
Pep Guardiola played most of his coaching matches against Jurgen Klopp (20) and Jose Mourinho (23). Against the Portuguese, the Catalan has 11 wins and 6 draws, losing only 6 times. In a 4-3-3 offensive system, Pep hopes to add another victory to the general statistics, but his mission is not easy at all. It will not be an easy match for the guests who come to the match without Fernadinho, Ake and Mendy. Moreover, Raheem Sterling is uncertain, as is the case with Bergwijn in the London camp.
With no defeats since the first round, Tottenham are a “specialist” of late goals and promise again to make a difference at the end of the match. City is going through a period of rebuilding the group, but has the numbers on its side, even if it lost the last direct duel with Spurs (0-2). It was the only defeat in the last 9 direct duels of the two rivals. Overall, the hosts have strong arguments for at least one equal.
At home, Tottenham is unbeaten in 6 consecutive official matches. In 5 of these 6 games both teams scored, a sign that Mourinho’s defense does not inspire great confidence. In the last stage, Manchester City resisted for a 1-1 in the derby with Liverpool, this being the third equal match in the last five stages.
The “citizens” can no longer afford wrong steps if they want to count in the fight for the title, but the Etihad team has problems in attack, without Aguero’s inspiration. Again, Jesus, Ferran Torres, Mahrez and (maybe) Sterling will be City’s most dangerous players, and the Brazilian is the favorite to score, according to Fortuna odds.
On the other hand, Mourinho puts his hopes in the individual achievements of Harry Kane, who has been involved in 27 goals in the last 14 matches played for Spurs! Tottenham hopes to start the match well again, after taking the lead at the break, in 5 of the previous 6 home games.
In the standings, Spurs is on the 2nd place (goal average 19-9), while Manchester City is on a modest 10th place (goal average 10-9). Last season, when City drew with Liverpool, Tottenham won hard in the WBA (1-0). There are two clever teams that can keep the ball in possession, and the hosts hope that Gareth Bale will be a decisive factor in setting the final score! Hard to choose the winning sign here.
Tottenham: Lloris – Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon – Sissoko, Hojbjerg – Bale, Lo Celso, Heung-Min – Kane
Coach: Jose Mourinho
Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo – De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Gundogan – Torres, Jesus, Foden
Coach: Pep Guardiola
In the last 6 direct matches, Spurs has two victories and City 3. One match ended in a draw;
Under 2.5 goals have been scored in 4 of the last 6 direct duels;
In the last 5 stages played by Manchester City, under 2.5 goals were scored;
In the last 3 games played in London between City and Spurs, they scored under 2.5 goals;
Manchester City has only one defeat in the last 12 stages of the championship;
PREDICTION: Manchester City to win @ 1,85
