LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City exacted some measure of revenge on Tottenham for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden's first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win to move them back top of the table on Saturday (April 20).
Pep Guardiola's men edge one point ahead of Liverpool once more with four games of a titanic title race left for both sides.
For all their Champions League heroics to get to the semi-finals this season, Tottenham still have much to do to qualify for the competition next season as they could easily end the Easter weekend outside the top four should Arsenal and Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and Burnley at home respectively.
City's quest for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies was ended by defeat on away goals to Spurs on Wednesday, despite winning a thrilling quarter-final, second leg 4-3.
However, they remain on course for a first ever treble of domestic trophies in England as they survived a nervy finale thanks to another blistering start.
City have made a habit of firing out of the blocks this season and just like in midweek to kickstart a kamikaze encounter, they struck within five minutes.
Foden was making just his second Premier League start and immediately justified Guardiola's faith in the 19-year-old by heading home Sergio Aguero's nodded pass across goal from Bernardo Silva's cross.
Â
Â
However, history could easily have repeated itself as after four goals were shared in the opening 11 minutes on Wednesday, Spurs had numerous chances to strike back.
Son Heung-min had already forced Ederson in a smart save from a narrow angle before City scored and the Brazilian goalkeeper had to rush from his goal once more to deny Christian Eriksen an equaliser on 15 minutes.
Two minutes later the Dane played provider with a glorious ball to free Son in behind the City defence.
However, the South Korean, who scored twice in midweek to end City's European dreams for another season, was caught up just in time by Aymeric Laporte, who made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle.
Despite Tottenham's chances on the break, it was the hosts who were still dominating territory and possession with Bernardo Silva a constant threat.
The Portuguese's outstanding season was rewarded as he was named alongside teammates Aguero and Raheem Sterling in the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award and Jan Vertonghen was fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty when he appeared to trip Silva inside the area.
Spurs were without captain Hugo Lloris through injury and his understudy Paulo Gazzaniga looked nervous early on, but the Argentinian goalkeeper got down to save Silva's next effort.
Guardiola's decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne out for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the sides was doubly questioned after the Belgian bagged a brilliant hat-trick of assists in midweek.
However, Guardiola's reasoning for being cautious with his playmaker after an injury-plagued season was understandable as de Bruyne limped off again just before the break and may well now miss the rest of the campaign.
Both sides suffered from their midweek exertions and the blazing sun as the second-half meandered along at a much more subdued pace.
Spurs had a big penalty appeal of their own turned down when Kyle Walker handled inside the area against his former club.
Sterling briefly thought he had completed a hat-trick in stoppage time on Wednesday with the goal that would have sent City through to the Champions League last four until VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
And the England international could not believe his misfortune once more when Gazzaniga stuck out an outstretched leg to prevent Sterling sealing a vital three points from Leroy Sane's cut-back.
Instead, City had to suffer through the closing stages knowing one mistake could cost them the title.
But they held on as Spurs suffered an eighth straight away defeat to English opposition.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane says he is "ready to go" after recovering from an ankle injury in time for Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool.
Kane starts Champions League final after overcoming ankle
Netflix renews Lucifer for fifth and final season. Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash. England fans clash with police in Portugal during Nations League match screening.
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash - Article
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is aiming to reintroduce the fearless football that Manchester United played under Sir Alex Ferguson. Solskjaer, who scored 91 goals in 235 Premier League appearances as a striker for United, has taken charge at Old Trafford until the end of the season. His first match on
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims cheeky dig at Liverpool - The
Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp
Football: Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players
Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several
Conte is reportedly poised to take over at Inter, despite head coach Spalletti securing Champions League qualification in back on to a Champions League spot at the expense of rivals AC Milan.
Spalletti leaves Inter, Conte expected to replace him
Football: Baihakki gets fresh shot at Thai top tier Less than three weeks before he turns 35 on Jan 31, national defender Baihakki Khaizan is counting his blessings after he signed a one-year contract with Thai League 1 side Trat FC on Friday.
Johor Darul Takzim - Kashima Antlers Live Stream]~ | Buffalo
Reds have helped change Champions League football, Lawrenson says. That is the belief of former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson, who cites the exploits of Jürgen Klopp's team - scorers of 40
Ikhsan scores again but misses in shoot-out loss
DAKAR • Egypt striker Mohamed Salah was named the African Footballer of the Year for the second straight year at the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) awards ceremony in Dakar on Tuesday..
Egypt's Salah retains African Footballer of the Year Award
Get more information about BARRY MAGUIRE at straitstimes.com. Ex-Dutch youth international Maguire seeks soaring start with Geylang Maguire hopes to rebuild career with Geylang
Farid Noor Ali Fazal, Executive Director & Marketing Director
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds at the end of their English Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 12, 2019.
Premier League » News » Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could'
The search for missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson has restarted after a GoFundMe campaign reached and passed its €300,000 goal. The crowdfunding campaign was
Messi urges search for Emiliano Sala to continue - SABC News
Tottenham have got their edge back and now Harry Kane has a new task for them, trying to make Wembley Stadium feel like home. Spurs host KAA Gent on Thursday needing a two goal win to stay in the
Tottenham news recap: Striker agrees January exit, Pochettino
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen