Tottenham vs Manchester City Preview: Spurs Seek Landmark Double as Champions Chase Momentum

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City to north London on Sunday with the opportunity to secure a landmark tenth Premier League double over the reigning champions. However, recent domestic form suggests that Thomas Frank’s side face a formidable challenge.

Both clubs return to league action buoyed by confidence-boosting 2–0 victories in the Champions League, with Spurs and City having secured their places in the round of 16. Despite that European progress, Tottenham’s Premier League campaign continues to falter. They currently sit 14th in the table and are without a win in their last five league matches, underlining the growing contrast between continental success and domestic inconsistency.

The hosts remain in search of their first Premier League victory of the new year, having drawn three and lost two of their most recent outings. Their midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt lifted morale, and with a knockout tie now confirmed, Spurs will hope renewed confidence can finally translate into improved league form.

Manchester City arrive in north London with mixed recent memories of this fixture. They were beaten 2–0 by Spurs in August, yet have won on their last two Premier League visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Another victory would see Pep Guardiola’s side claim three consecutive away league wins against Tottenham for the first time.

The champions are also gathering momentum at a crucial stage of the season. Back-to-back 2–0 victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Galatasaray have extended City’s winning run to three matches in all competitions. Their league success against Wolves was particularly significant, ending a four-game winless run and allowing City to capitalise on a slip-up from Arsenal in the title race.

Although Arsenal have since restored a seven-point cushion with a convincing win over Leeds, City remain firmly in contention and know that victory in north London is essential if they are to sustain pressure at the top of the table.

With both sides encouraged by midweek European success, Sunday’s clash promises to pit a Tottenham team searching for stability against a Manchester City side determined to maintain their resurgence and reassert their authority in the title race.

Team News

Tottenham could receive a timely boost with Micky van de Ven hopeful of returning after a minor issue ruled him out against Frankfurt. Several players are also available again after being ineligible for European action, including Conor Gallagher, Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel, Radu Dragusin and Souza.

However, Frank remains without several key figures. James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall, Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur are all sidelined with injuries.

City’s midweek win came at a cost, with Jeremy Doku suffering a calf issue that is expected to rule him out. Guardiola is also monitoring the fitness of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho.

There is positive news in midfield, with Rodri returning after serving a Champions League suspension. Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi are also available again after missing European duty, bolstering City’s options as they aim to continue their upward trajectory.