Sunday 15th August 2021
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City 16:30
– Met 164 times, Tottenham 63, Draws 36, Man City 65
– Last season’s repeat fixture ended, Spurs 2-0 Man City
– 15 of the last 23 head-to-heads went OVER 2.5 GOALS (all comps)
– 6 of the last 9 head-to-heads went UNDER 2.5 GOALS
– Both teams DIDN’T score in 7 of the last 9 head-to-heads
– Spurs have won 4 of their last 6 home league games vs Man City
– Man City have lost just 3 of their last 12 vs Spurs
– 2 DRAWS in the last 24 head-to-heads
– Raheem Sterling (Man City) has scored 6 in his last 12 vs Spurs
It’s anyone’s guess as to which of these sides Harry Kane will be playing for by the time this fixture comes around – but at the time of writing (Monday 9th), Kane is still a Spurs player.
Away from the Kane sub-plot that’s been surrounding this opening match for the current Premier League champions, the bookmakers make Man City the clear favourites to get off the mark with three points here at 1.55, with the Draw 4.33 and Spurs at 5.50.
However, Spurs will head here full of confidence after a 1-0 win over Arsenal last weekend in a pre-season friendly, plus City didn’t exactly impress in the Community Shield when losing 1-0 to Leicester last Saturday.
Spurs fans will also gain more hope knowing they won this fixture 2-0 last season – a repeat of that scoreline can be backed at 29.00.
The Londoners have also won 4 of their last 6 home games over City, so those willing to take the short 1.55 an away win here might not have it all plain sailing.
The Overs/Unders stats are a bit confusing with 6 of the last 9 head-to-heads going Under 2.5 GOALS, but in contrast 15 of the last 23 meetings went Over 2.5 Goals. You can back Under 2.5 goals at 2.10, or Over 2.5 goals at 1.72.
The safer ‘scoring market’ might, therefore be the ‘both teams to score’ option as both teams ‘DIDN’T’ score in 7 of the last 9 meetings – this can be backed at 2.00, with both teams TO score at a shorter 1.75.
Looking at the scoring markets Spurs’ Heung-Min Son will be the safer option at 9.00 (1st) or 3.50 (anytime) – and was also on the scoresheet in this fixture last term.
With Man City, team news is always key with them as they often rotate, but with England man Raheem Sterling having scored 6 times in his last 12 vs Spurs, then at 6.50 (1st) or 2.62 (anytime) he’s got to be on the shortlist.
Overall, it’s a game City will be keen to win and begin their title defence on the front foot, but with home advantage and a 2-0 win in this clash last season, Spurs might not be a pushover – especially with their new manager – Nuno Espirito Santo – at the helm.
Therefore, we are happy to side with the ‘both teams NOT to score’ option at 2.00 here – a bet that’s paid out in 78% of the last 9 head-to-heads.
BEST BET: BOTH TEAMS ‘NOT’ TO SCORE @2.00