🔊 Who will come out on top in one of the marquee clashes of the second round of the Premier League? On August 23, a revamped Tottenham visit an equally refreshed Manchester City. Both teams kicked off with emphatic wins, though their opponents were expected underdogs, so it was little surprise. This weekend marks the first real test for both sides. Bookmakers believe the "Citizens" have significantly better odds of passing it successfully, but we vividly remember how the "Spurs" fared on their last visit to the Etihad. However, we'll delve into that in the next section of our prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 It might come as a surprise to some, but Tottenham have outperformed City in their recent head-to-head encounters: they have secured 5 victories, while the "Citizens" have 4 (over the last 10 games). The standout result in this period was a resounding defeat—during the first round of the previous Premier League season, the "Spurs" left Guardiola's side with no chance in front of their own fans (4-0). However, that was the Postecoglou-led team. We'll see how the "Lilywhites" fare here under the guidance of Thomas Frank.

Manchester City Team Overview

⚪️ The Citizens were fortunate to kick off the season against a team they traditionally handle well. They consistently defeat Wolverhampton, and they did so again without much trouble. The Wolves managed to create a few chances, but it didn't spare them from a heavy defeat (0-4). Erling Haaland scored in the opening round for the fourth consecutive Premier League season, yet it was not the Norwegian striker who stole the spotlight. Instead, it was newcomer Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutchman masterfully dictated the team's tempo and also contributed with a goal and an assist. It seems City have certainly hit the mark with this transfer. Meanwhile, the new number ten, Rayan Cherki, didn't disappoint either, scoring a stunning long-range goal after coming off the bench.

Tottenham Hotspur Team Overview

🔵 Tottenham showed resilience after their unfortunate defeat in the UEFA Super Cup and kicked off their Premier League campaign in style. Yes, their opponent was Burnley, a team recently promoted from the Championship, but the Spurs delivered a solid performance, getting the job done with a 3-0 victory. Newcomer Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison formed an impressive attacking duo, with the Ghanaian providing two assists for the Brazilian. Richarlison's second goal was particularly stunning and could be a contender for "Goal of the Season." Last season's top scorer for the team, Brennan Johnson, also made his mark by scoring in a one-on-one situation. This marked the Londoners' first victory in August.

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Manchester City

🎙 “The first half was good, the second not so much. We had a short preseason. We’ve always faced challenges at Molineux. Two years ago, we lost here, and last season John Stones scored in the dying minutes. It's always tough here, so I'm very pleased with the result. We played well, showing good tempo and speed right from the start,” Guardiola said of the victory over Wolverhampton.

🔝 Nico Gonzalez (12.4 km) and Tijjani Reijnders (11.9 km) covered the most distance among all players in the first round of the Premier League.

📝 Fabrizio Romano reports that negotiations between Man City and PSG for Gianluigi Donnarumma are progressing. An agreement on personal terms is almost reached.

❌ Mateo Kovacic will definitely miss the upcoming match due to injury. There's also a list of players who didn't feature in the last round due to injuries: Phil Foden, Rodri, Savinho, and Josko Gvardiol. Their participation in the game is doubtful.

Tottenham Hotspur

🎙 "Yes, it's probably the perfect start, and we understand we need to keep going in the same vein. I think overall it was a good game, not outstanding, but a solid performance against a strong opponent. In the Premier League, it's never easy, we know that, and we have no complaints about the short rest after the match with PSG. Whether it's two days, three, four, or just one between games, I'll do everything possible to ensure the team is ready," stated Thomas Frank after the victory over Burnley.

📝 Tottenham are chasing Manchester City winger Savinho. According to Fabrizio Romano, Thomas Frank is eager to have the Brazilian in his squad, and Savinho is open to the move. It's likely that the Spurs will submit an improved transfer offer over the weekend (their third attempt). They also tried to secure Eberechi Eze, but the Englishman ended up at Arsenal.

❌ Tottenham have a significant list of absentees. Key players include Destiny Udogie, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison (the latter two won't return until next year). Also unavailable are Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, and Japanese newcomer Kota Takai.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Man City and Tottenham were among the most disciplined teams last season in terms of yellow cards, averaging 1.53 and 1.87 per game respectively. In the opening round of the current campaign, the "Citizens" picked up two cautions, while the "Spurs" received none.

The statistics are modest, yet in head-to-head encounters, it's a different story — at least six yellow cards have been shown in 5 of their last 7 meetings. We believe referee Peter Bankes will need to exceed his average of 3.2 cautions (over his last 10 Premier League matches) to manage the intensity and maintain control of the game. The bet is on over 3.5 yellow cards.

⚽️ Goal Predictions

Manchester City are formidable at home, particularly in the first halves of matches. The "Citizens" have scored before halftime in 12 of their last 13 Premier League home games. Even last week, a modest Burnley occasionally took the initiative from the "Spurs" in the opening 45 minutes, so we have no doubt Pep's men will do the same. We are betting on a Man City goal in the first half.

🚩 Corner Predictions

Tottenham were one of the top teams for corners in the Premier League last season, averaging 6.39 per game, and with Thomas Frank's arrival, this statistic shouldn't dip significantly. We believe that even at the Etihad, the "Spurs" will create their chances and deliver over 2.5 corners, as they have in their last 4 meetings with Man City and in 12 of their last 14 away Premier League matches.

Is it fair to consider Man City as the overwhelming favorites? Yes, but will they secure a convincing victory? That's not a given. We've seen Tottenham not just against Premier League's lower-tier teams, but also against Europe's strongest sides, and the Spurs have shown they're ready to compete at that level. City are in a transitional phase, raising the question: are they capable of dominating such a tricky opponent (judging by recent head-to-heads)? The answer leans towards no, so we predict a narrow win for the hosts, perhaps a 2-1 scoreline, but wouldn't be surprised by a draw either. Regardless, we anticipate an intriguing match filled with intensity and emotions, typical of these encounters. Based on this, our main bet is on over 3.5 yellow cards.