Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (C) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish head coach Thomas Frank (R) react during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Manchester City suffered defeat in their first home game of the season for only the second time in 36 years as Spurs produced a defensive masterclass at the Etihad Stadium. First half goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha condemned the Blues and gave the visitors their second win of the new season under new manager Thomas Frank.After crushing Wolves last weekend with a devastating display of finishing, hopes were high that City would banish the memory of last season’s 4-0 drubbing by the same opposition and lay down a marker for the rest of the Premier League to follow.Instead, City were thwarted by a combination of poor finishing and excellent defending as Spurs took the points, but it wasn’t the smash and grab that you’d expect teams to perform at the Etihad. Spurs were organised and hit City on the break on many occasions, forcing James Trafford, who was liable for the second goal, into some decent saves as the visitors threatened to extend their lead.The Blues had their chances, with Omar Marmoush seeing a shot from a difficult angle roll across the face of goal, before seeing Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario parry his powerful shot after being put through following good work from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian hitman was also having an off day, seeing his header from a Rayan Cherki cross find the crowd behind the goal instead of the top corner as the Blues struggled in front of goal.Spurs had no such worries and, despite not having a shot on goal throughout the first half, typically took the lead with their first real chance. Brazilian striker Richarlison was released down the right and his cross was perfect for Johnson to hit home. Trafford did get something on it and perhaps should have done better, but there was no denying Johnson the finish. The Blues had a momentary reprieve as the offside flag went up, but a check showed Richarlison was just onside when the ball was played and the goal rightly stood.That should have been the catalyst for a City onslaught but instead, Spurs took the game to the Blues and doubled their lead at the end of the first half, with Trafford firmly at fault. A goal kick for City should ideally have seen a punt upfield, but Trafford’s poor pass inside the penalty gave Richarlison an opportunity to score. Trafford initially made up for the error, getting a hand to the ball and pushing it away, but Palhinha was on hand to lash home and send Spurs 2-0 up.City turned the screw in the second half but no one seemed to be on the same wavelength. An error in the Spurs box allowed Haaland an opportunity to square to Cherki, but his pass was overhit and Cherki anded up committing a foul.Despite City having most of the play, it was Spurs who came closest to scoring again, but Trafford made a good double save to keep the score at 2-0.An opening home defeat was not what the Faithful had wanted as they look to bring the Premier League trophy back down the M62, but it was in the end, a deserved win for the visitors. Final Score: City 0-2 Spurs