Pep Guardiola faces another test against his troublesome opponent as Manchester City hosts Tottenham in the Premier League's standout fixture this weekend. The Spanish tactician has struggled historically against the North London side, suffering nine defeats during his managerial career.
"Tottenham has always been a difficult opponent for us, but we're focused on continuing our strong start to the season," Guardiola might say ahead of Saturday's clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Both teams enter the match with momentum after opening-day victories. City arrives with impressive statistics – 26 points since April (the best in the league) and an unbeaten run stretching to 10 matches. The champions have also kept seven clean sheets during this period, showcasing their defensive solidity alongside their well-known attacking prowess.
However, "Spurs" have been City's bogey team in recent years. Guardiola's side has managed just four wins in their last 12 meetings with Tottenham, including a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the Etihad last season that new manager Thomas Frank would love to replicate.
Frank's tenure at Tottenham began brilliantly with a convincing 3-0 victory over Burnley. Richarlison stole the headlines with two goals, including a spectacular bicycle kick, while summer signing Mohammed Kudus made an immediate impact with two assists on his debut. Brennan Johnson also found the net, continuing his good form from last season.
Interestingly, Tottenham hasn't won their first two matches of a Premier League season for four years – a streak they're eager to break on Saturday.
The visitors do have significant injury concerns, though. Key creative players like Maddison, Kulusevski, and Solomon are sidelined, while new signing João Palhinha is still building fitness after his return to English football. Frank might respond by deploying three center-backs to counter City's attacking threat.
Bookmakers clearly favor the home side, offering odds of 1.53 for a City win compared to 5.80 for Tottenham and 4.70 for a draw.
The match kicks off at 14:30 local time with Peter Banks as the referee. Can Spurs pull off another shock at the Etihad, or will Guardiola's men continue their formidable early-season form?
