A superlative Mahrez re-engaged City in the title race

Pep Guardiola said on Saturday, after losing the Manchester derby to United, that his team could no longer retain the Premier League. In fact, now City look certain to miss out on the title as they went into the break losing 0-2 against Tottenham.

But Guardiola urged his players in the dressing room and, in an amazing reaction at the start of the second half, the ‘citizens’ staged an incredible comeback (4-2) that put them five points behind leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand. less controversial.

Erling Haaland, after three straight games without scoring, ended his drought with his 28th goal of the season, 22 of them in the Premier, but the great architect of the victory was Riyad Mahrez, who participated in all four goals: he scored two and gave away another.

A City with De Bruyne on the bench

Antonio Conte’s Tottenham, who already beat City twice in the league championship last season (1-0 and 2-3), resisted the ‘skyblues’ push in the first half, without Kevin De Bruyne in the eleven starters due to physical discomfort as well as missing a training session this week due to family issues.

City played well but the first shot between the three sticks all game came in the 35th minute, and it came from Tottenham, with a header from Son blocked by Ederson. Despite the fact that Guardiola admitted that Haaland should have had more intervention in the game, the Norwegian did not appear until the 40′ but he did so in two consecutive actions and both came close to scoring.

Haaland doesn’t appear until 40′

In the first, after Nathan Aké and Eric Dier’s long ball failed to jump, Haaland took control but Hugo Lloris came out to cover his shot attempt. Seconds later, the French goalkeeper made a mistake on a Rodri cross and Haaland’s header went over the crossbar.

Tottenham strike twice

But Tottenham, always waiting to go on the counter, took advantage of two defensive errors to make it a surprising 0-2 at halftime. Ederson gave a dedicated assignment to Rodri, who, under pressure, got the ball to him as best he could and gave it to Dejan Kulusevski, who crossed at will (44′).

Already at a discount in the first half, Tottenham struck again. Harry Kane swiped the ball past Rodri on the bottom line, his angled shot was parried by Ederson and on the rebound Emerson Royal got his head in to make it 0-2.

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City really missed the Premier League and Guardiola’s harangue in the locker room had an effect. And how! In just 20 minutes 0-2 became 3-2 thanks to the work and grace of a Mahrez who completed one of the best performances of his career.

brutal reaction

In the 50th minute, the Algerian broke down the right to the end line and, after a flurry, Julián Álvarez took advantage of a loose ball to score 1-2.

City, who were let off, equalized three minutes after Rodri sent a ball through which Mahrez pointed for Haaland, also with his head, to beat Lloris.

Lewis and the crossbar avoid the 2-3

Overcome the worst, City took a breather and Tottenham breathed to come back on the charge. Kulusevki broke away on the right and his centre-back was finished by Ivan Perisic. 2-3 looked hopeless but the ball tripped the very young Reco Lewis and hit the crossbar (60′).

This chance reignited City and Mahrez, again going for his Perisic wing, cut back Ben Davies and fired past Lloris at the short post (63′). Tottenham did not give up, they took advantage of the smallest opening to put the defense of the ‘citizen’ in trouble until Mahrez, after the failure to control Clément Lenglet with a long shot from Ederson, who was sentenced by standing Lloris and , deadly one-on-one, pokes the ball (89′).

Tottenham cannot be the first team to beat a Guardiola team three times in a row and are still fifth in the Premier League, five points behind the Champions League. Meanwhile, City are back in the title fight thanks to a proud reaction and a thoroughly inspired Mahrez.

CITY OF MANCHESTER

42

TOTTENHAM

City of Manchester: Ederson; Rico Lewis (Walker, 83′), Akanji, Stones, Aké; Rodri, Gündogan (Bernardo Silva, 80′), Mahrez, Julián Álvarez, Grealish; Haaland (Ruben Dias, 91′)
Tottenham: Lloris; Cuti Romero, Dier, Davies (Lenglet, 78′); Emerson Royal (Richarlison, 78′), Bentancur (Bissouma, 74′), Höjbjerg, Perisic (Sessegnon, 69′); Kulusevski, Son; right
Goals: 0-1 Kulusevski (44′), 0-2 Emerson Royal (45′), 1-2 Julián Álvarez (52′), 2-2 Haaland (54′), 3-2 Mahrez (64′), 4 -2 Mahrez (90′)
Referee: Simon Hopper. Yellow cards to Mahrez (21′), Cuti Romero (23′), Höjbjerg (32′)
Attendance: 53,088 at Etihad Stadium

see the match sheet