2025 Premier League MW2 Preview - Manchester City vs. Tottenham: Which club will get their 2nd straight win? August 22, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

Manchester City will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, August 23, for a highly anticipated Premier League 2025/26 Matchweek 2 clash. Both sides are eager to maintain their winning momentum after strong starts to the new campaign. Kickoff is set for 12:30 PM BST.

Match Details and Venue

The Etihad Stadium, often referred to as Eastlands, will serve as the battleground for this fixture. Originally constructed for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has since become Manchester City's fortress. It currently holds a capacity of 53,400, with expansion plans in motion to increase that number to 62,000.

Recent Form and Standings

Manchester City enters the weekend sitting atop the Premier League table following a dominant 4-0 win over Wolves in their opening match. Pep Guardiola's side has been in superb form since April, collecting 26 points—the most of any top-flight club during that stretch—while remaining unbeaten with eight wins and two draws. Their defense has been a standout, boasting seven clean sheets and conceding the fewest shots per game (7.6) since April.

Tottenham also began their campaign strongly, securing a convincing 3-0 victory at home against Burnley. Under Thomas Frank, Spurs are eyeing back-to-back league wins for the first time since the 2021/22 season.

Manchester City vs. Tottenham Sports Bet Odds

The Citizens are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Citizens are favored by 1 goal, with a full-time result of 1.48.
• The Spurs are the underdogs by 1 goal, with a full-time result of 6.25.
• Draw has a full-time result of 4.50.
• Total Goals is set at 2.5 points, with the Under at 2.62 and the Over at 1.50.

Head-to-Head Statistics

City has struggled in recent meetings with Spurs, winning only four of their last 12 Premier League encounters. Their most recent victory was a narrow 1-0 triumph in February. The last time City managed consecutive league wins over Tottenham was between December 2017 and April 2019.

Tottenham, meanwhile, has enjoyed notable success at the Etihad in recent years, winning two of their last four league visits, alongside a draw and a loss. This is already more than their tally from the previous 11 trips combined (two draws, eight defeats). Following a 4-0 away victory last season, Spurs have the chance to secure consecutive away wins against City for the first time since May 2010.

Pep Guardiola's managerial record against Tottenham remains mixed, with nine defeats in 23 encounters across all competitions. In fact, Spurs are one of just three clubs—along with Liverpool and Real Madrid—against whom Guardiola has failed to win more than half of his meetings.

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Manchester City

• Predicted XI: James Trafford, Rico Lewis, John Stones, Rúben Dias, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nico González, Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva, Oscar Bobb, Jérémy Doku, Erling Haaland
• Head Coach: Pep Guardiola
• Key Player: Erling Haaland, fresh off a brace against Wolves, is closing in on a historic milestone—just two goals shy of becoming the second player in Premier League history to score 50 home goals in fewer than 50 appearances.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Predicted XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence, Archie Gray, Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Richarlison
• Head Coach: Thomas Frank
• Managerial Insight: Frank has experience winning at the Etihad, having guided Brentford to a 2-1 triumph there in 2022. Notably, only José Mourinho and Antonio Conte share the distinction of defeating Guardiola away in the league with two different clubs.

Final Thought

With both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur entering this showdown on the back of strong opening-day victories, the Etihad is set for a thrilling early-season battle. City's defensive dominance and Haaland's scoring exploits will be tested against a Spurs side eager to make a statement under Thomas Frank. This fixture has historically produced drama, and Saturday's clash promises to be another captivating chapter in their growing rivalry.

2025-26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Manchester City	1	0	0	3
2	Sunderland	1	0	0	3
3	Tottenham Hotspur	1	0	0	3
4	Liverpool	1	0	0	3
5	Nottingham Forest	1	0	0	3
6	Arsenal	1	0	0	3
7	Leeds United	1	0	0	3
8	Fulham	0	1	0	1
9	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	1	0	1
10	Aston Villa	0	1	0	1
11	Chelsea	0	1	0	1
12	Crystal Palace	0	1	0	1
13	Newcastle United	0	1	0	1
14	Everton	0	0	1	0
15	Manchester United	0	0	1	0
16	AFC Bournemouth	0	0	1	0
17	Brentford	0	0	1	0
18	Burnley	0	0	1	0
19	West Ham United	0	0	1	0
20	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	0	1	0