As it happened: 10-man City punished by ruthless Spurs
(Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

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18:353 years ago
That's it for our coverage. What a way to sign off for the winter break!
18:353 years ago
City find themselves 22 (twenty-two) points behind Liverpool and just two clear of third-placed Leicester, whom they will soon face.

Spurs, meanwhile, climb to fifth and are four points off the Champions League places. Is this a springboard for a late charge?

18:333 years ago

FT thoughts

Let's start with Spurs. They certainly rode their luck at times, but when Zinchenko was dismissed they saw smelled blood and punished the defending champions.

Bergwijn is a hugely exciting young talent and his fantastic goal could prove to be the start of a glittering career at Spurs.

For City, the complexion of the season doesn't significantly change. It's all about the Champions League. 

But something just wasn't right. They faltered at the key moments, and they couldn't dig deep after going down to ten. Questions will rightfully be asked about the character of a side that looked unstoppable not so long ago. 

18:253 years ago

Full time

And that's it! A memorable game, and a sensational win for Spurs. 
18:253 years ago
90+5' Off the bar! Bernardo dribbles down the right and sends a cross into the area. Sanchez tries to head over but ends up striking the woodwork of his own goal. Phew.
18:243 years ago
90+5' No doubt about it, Lloris is the man of the match today. A penalty save, and four other important stops. Rarely in recent history has he looked so assured.
18:223 years ago
90+4' Still City press and still they can't find a way through. Less than two minutes left. 
18:193 years ago
90' Jesus gets free at the back post and looks to head it across Lloris, but can only find his grateful arms.

There'll be five added minutes.

18:183 years ago
89' Dier makes a headed block from Bernardo before Lloris, backtracking, manages to tip over an audacious De Bruyne curler. 
18:163 years ago
88' You can't help but feel that the City of last season would have taken their chances with aplomb and passed this test with ease. 

But, as it is, time is running out. Lloris makes an important catch as Fernandinho clips a ball into the box. 

18:133 years ago
84' In the aftermath of Son's goal, Jesus was swapped for Mahrez. We missed that one.

But now both sides are making their final alterations.

Off go Sterling and Lucas, on come Dier and Bernardo. An indication of the differing approaches for these last 10 minutes or so.

18:093 years ago
80' Crucial back-tracking from Son. De Bruyne looks to pick up Cancelo's ball across but he's there to intercept and clear. 
18:063 years ago
77' Fernandinho shoots wide after Rodri's knock-down. It hit a Spurs man on its way so it's a corner... which comes to nothing. 
18:033 years ago
74' That's two shots, two goals for Spurs. City look a little shellshocked. 
18:013 years ago
Ndombele, moments after his arrival, slides it into Son, who finds space on the edge of the area, sets himself and sidefoots it into the bottom left corner via a deflection. 
18:003 years ago

GOOOALLL! SPURS SCORE AGAIN!

71' IS THAT THE GOAL THAT SEALS IT? SON SCORES FOR SPURS!
17:593 years ago
70' That will be the goalscorer's last involvement. He limps off, with Lamela introduced in his place.

Ndombele replaces Alli in a concurrent switch. 

17:583 years ago
69' City have just over 20 minutes to prevent a sixth defeat of the season.

They win a corner as the Spurs fans demand they put the ball out so Bergwijn, who went to ground clutching his leg after giving chase, can be treated. 

17:553 years ago
66' Lo Celso is the latest to go into the book after sliding in on Walker from behind and taking him out. 
17:543 years ago
65' Sergio Aguero has been withdrawn by Guardiola after that sending off. Cancelo comes on to shore City up as they look to push for an equaliser. 
17:533 years ago
The Dutchman controls the ball on his chest and takes it on the volley, giving the 'keeper no chance with his shot across goal into the corner. 
17:523 years ago

63' GOOOAALLL! BERGWIJN ON HIS DEBUT!

63' AND SPURS GRAB THE LEAD! WHAT A MOMENT FOR THE DEBUTANT BERGWIJN AS HE LASHES IT PAST EDERSON!
17:513 years ago
62' Winks began breaking forward after intercepting a really poor corner. 

Zinchenko can have no complaints about the decision.

What an opportunity for Spurs now. They've not even had a shot in anger but might they now be the favourites?

17:503 years ago

RED CARD!

60' CITY ARE DOWN TO TEN MEN. Zinchenko is shown a clear-cut second yellow after stopping Winks' counterattack.
17:483 years ago
58' City are overplaying it. De Bruyne slips the ball through a gap and Mahrez latches onto it, but he tries a cute cut-back instead of shooting cross-goal. 
17:443 years ago
55' Lucas Moura takes the ball off Fernandinho on the edge of the Spurs area and tries to slip Alli through, but he's ruled just offside. 
17:423 years ago
53' Alderweireld, by the way, had been on hand to clear an Aguero shot off the line seconds earlier. 
17:393 years ago

An awful miss!

49' What's going on here? Lloris and Tanganga collide on the edge of the area and City find themselves with an empty net to attack. Eventually Sterling tees up Gundogan, and he inexplicably blazes the ball over the top!
17:313 years ago
The goal for Tottenham is to soak up the pressure and utilise the pace of Son and Moura on the counter, but that's a gameplan City are too all used to facing.

Tanguy Ndombele, who's among the substitutes, could give Spurs a greater presence in midfield. 

17:263 years ago

HT thoughts

City must feel they just can't get a break when they face Tottenham. It will inevitably be said that Aguero should have taken the penalty, but he has been denied by Lloris in the past.

Aguero, for his part, has had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring. And City have been asking all the questions.

The ground came alive after that VAR melee. Can Spurs harness the atmosphere as they look to put the visitors under real pressure in the second half? 

They've only been able to produce flashes so far, but they've been handed a lifeline. 

17:193 years ago

Half-time

And that's the last real action of the first half. Catch your breath. 
17:193 years ago

What a miss!

45+4' How hasn't Aguero scored in this first half!? Mahrez picks out Sterling with a superb aerial ball and it's worked back to Aguero, but he somehow fails to convert with the goal gaping. 
17:173 years ago
45+3' Zinchenko goes for glory from the left edge of the box but sidefoots harmlessly over. 
17:153 years ago
45+1' We're into four added minutes at the end of the half.
17:153 years ago
45' Lloris, by the way, was off his line before the initial save, but VAR can't review that. 
17:143 years ago
45' VAR didn't see enough contact from Lloris on Sterling, who was always going to try and get the decision in that scenario. What is it about this fixture and the technology?
17:133 years ago
43' This game is at boiling point. Rodri is furious as he penalised for a foul on Son just over 25 yards from goal.
17:123 years ago
43' Play STILL hasn't resumed. It looks as if Alderweireld and Zinchenko have been booked. There was a tussle between the two sets of players after Lloris' challenge.
17:113 years ago
41' Wow. That is unbelievable. The Spurs supporters are delighted. 
17:103 years ago

PENALTY SAVED! BUT...

Lloris easily keeps out the penalty but then Sterling goes down under the scampering keeper's challenge.

ANOTHER VAR REVIEW. 

NO PENALTY THIS TIME. INCREDIBLE. 

17:093 years ago
40' It was a reckless challenge from Aurier, and now it will be Gundogan who has the chance to give City the lead...
17:083 years ago

PENALTY to City

38' Mike Dean stops play to allow the review to take place.

VAR awards the penalty!

17:073 years ago
37' We'll have a VAR check for a penalty momentarily. Aguero has gone down following a lunging Aurier challenge. Dean thought he got the ball.

Sterling had seen a close-range effort blocked in the frantic scenes which preceded it.

17:053 years ago
36' Walker is on hand to flick the ball over the head of a waiting Alli after Bergwijn floated a cross his way. Better. 
17:043 years ago
34' The passage of play ends with an overhit Aurier cross from the other flank. 
17:033 years ago
34' Walker joins Sterling in Dean's book after Moura nicks the ball past him and he brings him down. Free-kick in a crossing position down the left. 
17:003 years ago
30' A spell of pressure from City which suggests an opener may not be too far away unless Spurs can assert themselves.
16:593 years ago
29' No shots on target from Spurs yet.
16:583 years ago

Aguero hits the post

27' Mahrez pounces on a loose ball out from Sanchez and sends Aguero through on goal. He shifts the ball to the right and looks to slot into the corner but hits the base of the post, potentially via a slight touch from Lloris' outstretched boot.

Best chance so far. 

16:543 years ago
25' De Bruyne powers one into the midriff of Lloris from 25 yards.
16:523 years ago
23' City nearly find a route to a goal with an inspired Gundogan - De Bruyne - Aguero combination, their neatest bit of attacking play so far. Sanchez thwarted them in the end.

They have edged the first quarter of the match, but Spurs will still be reasonably satisfied. 

16:483 years ago
18' Ederson with a vital intervention! Son sets off on a run in-behind and Winks spots him, lofting it into his path, only for the City 'keeper to charge out of his area and lash it away.
16:453 years ago
15' Jose Mourinho was furious that Sterling wasn't dismissed for that tackle. 

It looks a little nasty in slow-motion. 

16:443 years ago
14' Raheem Sterling is booked for catching Alli's ankle with a late challenge.

VAR briefly reviews Mike Dean's decision, considering whether to upgrade it to a red card. They choose to back the referee.

Alli has hobbled back to his feet.

16:423 years ago
12' A real heart-in-mouth moment for Ederson and City after he misjudges Otamendi's back-pass. He thinks it's bouncing into his area, but it stays outside, and he has to commit to the challenge on Moura. Fortunately for City, he gets the ball.
16:403 years ago
11' It would have been a very soft penalty. 
16:393 years ago
10' Now Sterling wants a penalty, claiming a shove in the back from Aurier as he tried to get away down the left-hand side of the area. 

Mike Dean wasn't interested.

16:393 years ago
9' Better chance for City as Walker picks out an unmarked Aguero with a low cross, but the striker sees both of his efforts blocked. 
16:383 years ago
8' The first attempt of the game comes from the right boot of De Bruyne as Mahrez knocks the ball his way. The Belgian blazes over from a tight angle. 
16:373 years ago
7' Positive signs for Spurs after City begun the game on top. Debutant Bergwijn earns rapturous applause after his challenge on Walker before Alli gets in-behind the visitors' defence, only for the flag to go up.
16:303 years ago

Kick-off

Here we go. Spurs vs City. Mourinho vs Guardiola.
16:303 years ago
Manchester City are about to get us underway. 
16:263 years ago
A final run-through of the teams:

Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Tanganga; Lo Celso, Winks; Bergwijn, Alli, Son.

City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Zinchenko; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.

10:513 years ago
That's all for now. But check back an hour before kick-off for the full starting XIs.

Will City be boosted by Laporte's return? Will Bergwijn be thrown straight in at the deep end?

10:493 years ago

The day's other Premier League game

This match follows a 14.00 meeting between Burnley and Spurs' archrivals Arsenal at Turf Moor. 

Victory would move the Gunners into the top half, but defeat would see them rather embarrassingly leapfrogged by their opponents.

You can follow that game LIVE, before joining us, by clicking here.

10:473 years ago

City team news

There are two key fitness tests to be conducted in the City camp.

Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho, both integral to their side's defensive solidity, will be assessed after recent absences.

Benjamin Mendy looks likely to miss out, while Leroy Sane's recovery from a knee injury continues in the backdrop.

10:453 years ago

A debut for Bergwijn?

It was an intriguing January transfer window at Spurs as the Christian Eriksen saga came to an end and Kyle Walker-Peters joined Rose in making a temporary exit.

The only incoming was Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn, a £27million addition from PSV. He's been enjoying a strong 2019/20 campaign, having scored six and assisted 13 in 29 appearances across all competitions.

Mourinho says he'll be involved today in some capacity. 

10:413 years ago

Spurs team news

Heung min-Son will lead the line for Spurs today in the ongoing absence of Harry Kane.

Moussa Sissoko and Ben Davies remain sidelined.

That means Jan Vertonghen could start on the left side of the defence, with Danny Rose having joined Newcastle on loan this week.

10:383 years ago

Last time out: Incredible VAR drama

Spurs travelled to the Etihad in mid-August, and despite recording just three shots on goal to the hosts' 30, they returned to London with a point.

City were twice pegged back, first by Erik Lamela after Raheem Sterling's opener and then by Lucas Moura after Sergio Aguero had struck.

Gabriel Jesus thought he'd bagged the winner in stoppage time, only for VAR to chalk off the goal for a handball by Aymeric Laporte in the build-up.

The rule has proven widely unpopular, but its enforcement left Spurs fans overjoyed that day, just as they had been in the Champions League a few months earlier.

City would certainly take great satisfaction from silencing the Hotspur faithful today.

10:333 years ago

Tricky run begins for City

The immediate goal for the Cityzens is to narrow Liverpool's 22-point advantage and extend their lead over third-placed Leicester to a comfortable five points.

Before they have the opportunity to end the Reds' unbeaten streak (assuming it continues) at the beginning of April, they must first navigate trips to Spurs, Leicester, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Oh, and they also face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, upon which their season now hinges.

Liverpool's domestic lead could be quite frankly absurd if City continue to stumble.  

10:263 years ago

Three competitions, differing fortunes

It's been a rather topsy-turvy three weeks for today's visitors.

Having annihilated Aston Villa in a vintage performance, they were stunned by Crystal Palace in a draw which seemed to all-but confirm Liverpool's triumph.

Then they edged past Sheffield United and thumped Fulham in the FA Cup before tip-toeing through to the League Cup final despite a second home defeat of the season against local rivals Manchester United.

The sense of relentlessness that has characterised Pep's side has faded.

10:213 years ago

Mourinho chases a big result

On the whole, it's been an underwhelming start to Jose Mourinho's tenure at Spurs.

In the biggest games, they have failed to deliver. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all beaten them in the last couple of months.

Can they produce something special today against the champions?

10:163 years ago
We'll have all the key pre-match details before bringing you the team news when it breaks at around 15.30.
10:163 years ago

Welcome

Hello and welcome to VAVEL UK's live text commentary of the final Premier League match of Gameweek 25: Spurs vs Manchester City at the London Stadium.
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