Manchester Metropolis is getting ready to Premier League historical past after beating Tottenham

Manchester Metropolis is another victory away from making historical past.

With a hard-fought 2-0 away win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola’s aspect leapfrogged Arsenal into first place in England’s Premier League with only one extra spherical of video games to play. Ought to Metropolis beat West Ham in Sunday’s season finale, the membership would turn into the primary in historical past to assert 5 consecutive English titles.

Star Sky Blues striker Erling Haaland transformed the game-winner for his aspect within the second half. After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Haaland tucked residence a low cross from Kevin De Bruyne shortly after the break.

The Norwegian striker sealed the three factors for the guests with one other purpose from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time. The Residents now have 88 factors. The second place Gunners have 86, that means they can not catch Haaland & Co. if Man Metropolis tops the Hammers on the ultimate day of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

Listed here are a couple of fast ideas on Tuesday’s match.

Play of the sport

Metropolis had the higher of the possibilities in what was a wide-open first half from each groups. They have been most likely unfortunate to not take the lead sooner. Below regular circumstances, a tie on the highway towards a Spurs aspect desperately making an attempt to maintain alive its hopes of Champions League qualification would not be a horrible consequence. The longer the sport went on and not using a breakthrough, although, the extra the stress on Guardiola’s staff started to construct.

Most of that stress evaporated when De Bruyne squared his cross to Haaland, whose completely timed run stored him onside regardless of the hosts’ protestations:

There was nonetheless loads of work to do at that time, however it was the opening the guests wanted.

Turning level

Metropolis was nursing its slim lead with lower than 5 minutes of normal time remaining within the match when defender Manuel Akanji was dispossessed by Tottenham ahead Brennan Johnson. Son pounced on the unfastened ball, racing in alone on visiting keeper Stefan Ortega, who had entered the sport for injured starter Emerson earlier within the second half. With an opportunity to each pull his staff degree and writer one other twist in what has already been a drama-filled title race, Son’s right-footed shot was blocked by Ortega, who caught out a leg to stone the South Korean from point-blank vary.

A couple of minutes later, Haaland put the result past any doubt.

Key stat

The numbers show that Tottenham carried out nicely on this sport. The house aspect out-possessed Metropolis for a lot of the evening, and never simply after they went down 1-0. In addition they out-shot the champions 10-8. They could not take benefit, although, with Ederson stopping all 5 of their on-target makes an attempt.

What’s subsequent for Manchester Metropolis?

Had the Sky Blues managed solely a draw from Tuesday’s sport in hand, they would not have been answerable for their very own future. They’d’ve needed to win (or not less than higher Arsenal’s consequence versus Everton) and overcome a minus-3 purpose distinction. Even for Metropolis’s all-planet assault, the second a part of that equation might have been insurmountable.

As an alternative, the Metropolis gamers know that if they will merely deal with their very own enterprise this weekend again in Manchester, their place in English soccer lore will probably be safe.

What’s subsequent for Tottenham Hotspur?

Tuesday’s loss assured Aston Villa England’s fourth and closing Champions League berth; Spurs can now end no greater than fifth this season and must accept Europa League participation in 2024-25 as an alternative. Ange Postecoglou’s squad completes this season’s slate at already relegated Sheffield Wednesday.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities. He was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, and he has lined United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.