Haaland hits again as Man City edge Spurs in Premier League live thriller
09.02.2026 - 09:44:24
Man City 3–2 Tottenham: Haaland cool, chaos everywhere
This one had that big title-race energy from the first whistle. Manchester City jumped out fast, with their usual death-by-a-thousand-passes style, and it didn’t take long for the net to shake.
The opener came from – who else – Erling Haaland. After a slick move down the left, Phil Foden slipped a cute reverse pass into the box, Haaland peeled off his marker and smashed a low finish past the keeper for 1–0. Ice cold, typical Haaland: one touch to set, second touch, goal. That’s his trademark.
But Spurs didn’t just fold. On the break, they were electric. Heung-Min Son dragged them level, finishing off a razor-sharp counter. Dejan Kulusevski drove through midfield, fed Son on the left, and the captain cut inside before bending a right-footed curler inside the far post. 1–1 and the away end exploded.
City reacted like champions. Before halftime, Kevin De Bruyne did what Kevin De Bruyne does. A loose ball dropped outside the area, and he laced a first-time rocket into the top corner for 2–1. Pure technique. The Spurs keeper barely moved – he just watched it fly.
After the break, City pushed for the killer and they got it. A low cross from Julián Álvarez took a deflection and fell kindly for Bernardo Silva, who poked home from close range for 3–1. It looked done… but it’s Spurs, and it’s City – there’s always drama.
Tottenham pulled one back when substitute Richarlison pounced on a rebound inside the six-yard box to make it 3–2. Then came the huge talking point: deep into stoppage time, Son burst through again, went down after contact with the keeper, and the referee instantly pointed to the spot. VAR checked it for what felt like forever before overturning the decision for the slightest offside in the build-up. City fans roared in relief, Spurs fans absolutely lost it online.
Stars under the spotlight
- Erling Haaland – Back doing what he does: one big chance, one goal. His movement dragged Spurs’ backline all over the place. Not his most explosive game, but brutally efficient.
- Kevin De Bruyne – The true conductor. His goal was pure world-class and he dictated the tempo for long stretches. Every time he got on the ball, Spurs looked scared.
- Phil Foden – Constant energy, clever link play, and an assist. He’s become such a reliable big-game player, drifting between lines and creating space for Haaland.
- Heung-Min Son – Spurs’ heartbeat again. Took his goal brilliantly and almost dragged them to a point. The disallowed penalty is exactly what the Internet is arguing about right now.
- Richarlison – Impact sub. Got his goal, threw himself into duels, and turned the final minutes into pure chaos.
Football results today: how this hits the title race
This win keeps Manchester City right on top of the Premier League pile, nudging them further clear of the chasing pack. With rivals dropping points earlier in the weekend, these three points feel huge. Spurs, meanwhile, are still trapped in that tense battle for European spots – lose a game like this and suddenly the table looks a lot tighter and a lot uglier.
City’s front line clicking again, Haaland scoring, De Bruyne fit and firing – it all screams "bad news" for anyone trying to catch them. Spurs showed they can hurt the big boys, but the fine margins at the top are cruel. One VAR line, one overturned penalty, and the whole mood of a season can swing.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: giants grind out results
Around the rest of Europe, the story was the same: stars deciding games and title dreams living or dying with tiny details.
In Spain, Jude Bellingham was once again in the thick of it for Real Madrid. He didn’t get on the scoresheet this time, but his all-action midfield display helped Madrid squeeze out a narrow win, with the decisive goal coming from Vinícius Júnior after some neat interplay in the box. Bellingham’s drive and aggression kept Madrid on the front foot, even without a goal or assist next to his name.
In France, Kylian Mbappé kept the highlight reels busy for PSG. He scored a classic Mbappé goal – bursting in behind the defence after a through ball, opening up his body, and sliding it into the far corner. He then laid on an assist with a low cutback that was tapped in by a teammate inside the six-yard area. When he’s in that mood, Ligue 1 defenders basically need a prayer.
Premier League live context: who’s chasing who?
Back in England, the Premier League live narrative is all about small swings. City’s win over Spurs cranks up the pressure on their nearest rivals, who now need near-perfect form to stay in touch. Spurs, meanwhile, are stuck juggling the race for Champions League spots with the reality that defensive lapses and late-game decisions are killing them.
The football league table now tells a story of City edging away, multiple teams scrapping for the top four, and a mid-table pack that’s one good run away from Europe – or one slump away from a crisis. The gap between hype and heartbreak is basically one dodgy VAR call.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging over that last-minute VAR penalty reversal
Reporter’s take: this felt like a season-defining night
From my seat, this felt massive. City weren’t flawless, but they were clutch – and that’s exactly what usually decides titles. When you’ve got Haaland burying chances, De Bruyne smacking in worldies, and Foden buzzing around causing chaos, you can ride out rough spells and still walk away with three points.
Spurs, though, will be fuming. You can’t fault the fight – Son and Richarlison threw everything at it – but you can absolutely question the game management and the defending. They gave City too much respect early on, then had to chase, then got burned by VAR late on. In my opinion, if Spurs want to be taken seriously as a top-four lock, they’ve got to stop needing miracles in the last ten minutes and start owning the first sixty.
As for the top scorers today, it’s the usual headline-makers grabbing the spotlight again, and that’s what keeps this season so addictive. Every weekend, every round, one of the superstar names is rewriting the script.
Don’t blink – the season is speeding up
The mix of Premier League drama, Champions League news on the horizon, and domestic races across Europe means the calendar from here is absolutely stacked. Soccer news right now is just non-stop: fixtures coming fast, tension rising, and every point feeling like double.
If tonight’s chaos between City and Spurs is a preview, we’re in for a wild sprint to the finish. Managers are under pressure, stars are deciding games, and VAR is basically the unwanted main character of the season.
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