Premier League: Guardiola and Conte Clash Could be Compelling

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

A Premier League blockbuster potentially awaits neutrals on Saturday teatime as two heavyweights put their early unbeaten records on the line.

Champions Manchester City welcome Tottenham to the Etihad Stadium, a team that secured a league double over them last term en route to securing a spot at Europe’s top table.

Interestingly, this contest comes immediately after both sides have played their first group stage matches of the competition and the strength and depth of both squads could well come into play.

Talking Points

Certainly, City travelled to Sevilla in midweek without the services of centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and John Stones and full-back Kyle Walker. They still had far too much in a surprisingly one-sided romp.

Meanwhile, Spurs hosted Marseille and, after the French side were reduced to 10 men early in the second half, they wore down their resistance with two late goals from new £60-M man Richarlison.

Of course, this is also a meeting of two sides with contrasting styles echoed by the contrasting managers in Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte who have both enjoyed success forged in their own respective styles wherever they have managed.

They also possess two of the best frontmen in world football today.

Erling Haaland is a phenomenal talent and, in every direction you look, his statistics are breath-taking.

When the Norwegian struck his 10th goal in six games against Aston Villa last weekend, there was still a chance he could become the first player in 76 years to score a hat-trick in a third successive top-flight game.

That he didn’t was no reflection on him and, should he stay around long enough with his new employers, we could be witnessing the early stages of a very special relationship indeed. He hit two more in Seville for good measure incidentally.

Likewise, another player who has a special relationship with his own boyhood club and has been responsible for many of their Premier League 2022 highlights is Tottenham and England captain Harry Kane.

He has a fine record against City – in fact, he has a fine record against most teams – and it’s well known he wanted to move to the champions just over a year ago.

That Spurs refused to sell him is now a thing of the past, even though there are still plenty of rumours circulating with some media suggesting Bayern Munich are preparing to make a move next summer.

It’s impossible to stop the speculation of course, but Kane appears as settled as he has ever been in North London and will be the main threat as both sides aim for the summit as the early season takes shape.

History

Historically, this rivalry could barely be closer.

Both teams have won 65 each of their meetings, a further 36 matches have been drawn, which shows you how well matched they have been over the years as they have each enjoyed their own periods of glory.

Two seasons ago it was vintage Mourinho in North London as Spurs ran out 2-0 winners in a game City dominated for long spells, yet it didn’t matter because of a Jose Mourinho managerial masterclass.

However, City then got the better of Spurs in the return at the Etihad with a 3-0 triumph before a late Laporte goal won them the League Cup Final – made easier by the fact Mourinho had been foolishly dismissed by Spurs just days earlier.

Last season, Tottenham got a modicum of revenge with a league double of their own.

In London, a Son Heung-Min goal separated the sides on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign.

Then a 95^th minute Kane winner settled a five goal thriller in Spurs’ favour in Manchester in February.

City have won 13 of the last 23 meetings with Spurs in the Premier League.

Arguably the best game I have reported on in recent years involved these clubs in 2019 in the Champions League quarter-finals – an epic encounter with which words struggled to do justice, so barely credible were the events which unfolded.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds will very rarely back the away team travelling to City and this is no exception.

Some would think it’s worth a punt on Spurs given the odds are attractive both 1X2 @ 7.40 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.12.

City are available 1X2 @ 1.36 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.33. The draw, meanwhile, is on offer @ 5.00.

Now I cannot remember the last time these sides produced a goalless draw, which perhaps explains why Correct Score 0-0 would pay out @ 18.00, with a repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture – Correct Score 2-3 – offering a staggering @ 80.00.

I don’t think that will be the scoreline again but I do think there will be goals with over 3.50 @ 2.33, total goal 0-1 @ 5.20 and 4-6 @ 2.52 amongst the options.

 

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