Preview and odds analysis for Man City vs Tottenham at 18:30 on August 23, Premier League Round 2

Preview and odds analysis for Man City vs Tottenham at 18:30 on August 23. Predictions, expected lineups, and expert insights for the Premier League Round 1 match between Man City and Tottenham.

Match preview Man City vs Tottenham

90-minute odds: 0 : 1 ¼

Total goals: 3 1/4

Just over six weeks after their unexpected defeat to Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup, Man City returned to the Premier League with a commanding performance against Wolves. New signing Reijnders stood out with a goal and an assist, alongside Haaland’s familiar brace, leading Pep Guardiola’s squad to a 4-0 win. Although the squad depth is not yet ideal, Man City have displayed overwhelming form: unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches, winning 8 and keeping 7 clean sheets. Remarkably, Haaland has netted 48 goals in just 48 matches at Etihad, continuing to be the biggest threat to any defense. Guardiola remains cautious about squad depth, but Man City’s dominant possession style and clinical finishing make them the top contenders for the three points.

Under coach Thomas Frank, Tottenham began the new season with a 3-0 victory over Burnley, boosting team morale. Richarlison exploded with a brace, including a spectacular overhead kick, while newcomer Mohammed Kudus made his mark with 2 assists. However, Spurs still face significant challenges: they have gone 11 consecutive Premier League games without a win against non-promoted teams. Additionally, injuries to James Maddison and several key players have reduced midfield creativity considerably. Nevertheless, the partnership of Kudus and Richarlison promises to pose a tangible threat to Man City’s defense. Tottenham also carry some confidence after a 4-0 win at Etihad last season, but replicating this feat with a weakened squad will be very difficult.

In their last 5 encounters across all competitions, Man City have won 3 and Tottenham 2. Spurs caused a major upset with a 4-0 victory at Etihad in November 2024, but overall, the North London club has often been outmatched by Man City. Notably, Guardiola has suffered 9 defeats to Tottenham in his career, second only to Liverpool. This adds extra intrigue and unpredictability to the upcoming match.

Squad status Man City vs Tottenham

Man City: Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips, and Savinho are out. Rodri, Ederson, Foden, and Gvardiol are doubtful.

Tottenham: Maddison, Dragusin, Kulusevski, Gil, Solomon, and Takai are unavailable. Bissouma and Udogie await fitness tests.

Expected lineups Man City vs Tottenham

Man City: Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Bobb, Reijnders, Marmoush; Haaland

Tottenham: Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Bentancur, Palhinha, Spence; Sarr, Kudus; Richarlison

Recent form of Man City

16/08/2025: Wolves 0 - 4 Man City (Premier League)

10/08/2025: Palermo 0 - 3 Man City (Friendly)

01/07/2025: Man City 3 - 4 Al Hilal (CWC)

27/06/2025: Juventus 2 - 5 Man City (CWC)

23/06/2025: Man City 6 - 0 Al Ain (CWC)

Recent form of Tottenham

16/08/2025: Tottenham 3 - 0 Burnley (Premier League)

14/08/2025: PSG 3 - 2 Tottenham (UEFA Super Cup)

07/08/2025: Bayern 4 - 0 Tottenham (Friendly)

03/08/2025: Newcastle 1 - 1 Tottenham (Friendly)

31/07/2025: Arsenal 0 - 1 Tottenham (Friendly)

Recent head-to-head history

27/02/2025: Tottenham 0 - 1 Man City (Premier League)

24/11/2024: Man City 0 - 4 Tottenham (Premier League)

31/10/2024: Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City (EFL Cup)

15/05/2024: Tottenham 0 - 2 Man City (Premier League)

27/01/2024: Tottenham 0 - 1 Man City (FA Cup)

Match prediction Man City vs Tottenham

Man City, with their overwhelming form and home advantage, are rated much higher. Despite the excellent form of Richarlison and Kudus, Tottenham’s loss of key players and the challenge of playing away at Etihad make their chances of causing an upset quite slim. If they perform at their best, Haaland and his teammates could easily secure a clear win.

Predicted score: Man City 3 - 1 Tottenham