Erling Haaland wins twice in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Erling Haaland wins twice in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Manchester City secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Tottenham, with Erling Haaland bagging a brace. The win puts City within touching distance of a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title. With just one win needed to seal the deal, City holds a two-point lead over Arsenal heading into the final round of matches on Sunday.
City will face West Ham in their last league fixture of the season, while Arsenal takes on Everton at home. Pep Guardiola acknowledged the pressure of the situation, comparing it to the final serve in a Wimbledon match. Despite the tension and the formidable competition, Guardiola emphasized his team's focus and determination.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 51st minute, tapping in Kevin De Bruyne's cross from close range. He sealed the victory with a penalty in stoppage time after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Pedro Porro.
The win puts City in charge of their destiny in the title race, even though Arsenal has kept the pressure on until the last moment. Guardiola is now on the brink of securing his sixth league championship in seven seasons
No other English team has achieved the feat of winning four consecutive top-flight titles, and City is aiming to secure back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles as well.
Heading into Tuesday’s match just one point behind Arsenal, Guardiola had cautioned his players that anything less than maximum points would jeopardize their dominance in England’s top division. This heightened the pressure on his team, which was also seeking to halt a four-game losing streak in the league against Spurs.
The magnitude of the occasion seemed to affect City’s players in a tense first half.
“They were aware of the consequences of the result. When that happens, you risk losing the Premier League,” Guardiola remarked. “They are human beings, and I understand the pressure.”
Haaland's goal six minutes into the second half relieved some of the tension. However, despite his decisive strikes, City had to rely on substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to thwart Spurs' attempts as they pressed for an equalizer.