Saturday's hotly anticipated clash between Tottenham Hotspur and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City started in the best possible way for the hosts.
All eyes were on Pep Guardiola's side heading into the evening affair, with City keen to impress after losing their last four fixtures. Defeats to Bournemouth, Brighton and Sporting CP, as well as Spurs in the Carabao Cup, had cast doubt over their ability to keep hold of the title this season.
When James Maddison faced City, he made sure to give those doubters something to talk about.
Within the first 20 seconds of Saturday's clash, Yves Bissouma was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Phil Foden. Fans knew, from this moment on, this would be a game for the ages.
Also, if there’s ONE player you don’t keep on after an early yellow, it’s Yves Bissouma.
— The Man, The Myth, The Melly. (@MLVN__) November 23, 2024
What are you gonna do when he gets his customary 55th min (second) yellow?
Ladies and Gentlemen Yves Bissouma.
18secs into the game and gets a ????#MCITOT #THFC #COYS #TOTTENHAM pic.twitter.com/k6Xhs5iKaY
— SeanSlaterTHFC ???? (@SeanSlaterTHFC) November 23, 2024
When you have a game next week but you have to attend a birthday
Yves Bissouma everybody ????????
(Context - gets a yellow card in 16 seconds in Manchester City vs Tottenham)
#MCITOT pic.twitter.com/9ZV3uyAHne
— DIO (@Utd_DioBrando) November 23, 2024
Yellow card inside 16 secs for Yves Bissouma yeah there's a red card in this game & I hope it goes to a City player
— Tîmhâzârd???????? (@Timhazard254) November 23, 2024
However, minutes later Maddison shook the Etihad Stadium, firing a beautiful strike against the run of play into the back of City's net. The hosts were stunned, but Spurs continued to dominate.
2016 - James Maddison is the first Spurs player to score a Premier League goal on his birthday since Christian Eriksen in 2016, which also came away against Manchester City. Celebration. pic.twitter.com/rFiik34vJ4
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 23, 2024
Maddison scores on his return to the starting XI!
It is a beautiful cross from Kulusevski and Maddison times his run perfectly for a simple finish in the box
— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) November 23, 2024
That’s a superb cross by Kulusevski, wow, goal maddison
— Excelsior (@RavS82) November 23, 2024
Before long, celebrations rang around the away end once again, as Maddison doubled his side's lead and made it 2-0.
Manchester City just aren't the same team without Rodri.
They just aren't. The spaces they are leaving in the middle of the park. The uncoordination between Lewis and Gundogan particularly for the second goal by James Maddison.
My goodness. pic.twitter.com/daIfMHdBuT
— Mark Kinyanjui (@Kiinya_Y) November 23, 2024
What a clinic both of those goals. Maddison’s movement so good. City just passing off defensive assignments to each other.
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) November 23, 2024
James Maddison should have pointed at Haaland after that chip for the second goal.
— Zito (@_Zeets) November 23, 2024
Man City are crumbling. Two goals down inside 20 minutes. Another delightful goal by Maddison!
— Firzie A. Idris (@firzieidris) November 23, 2024
Maddison's 2 goals have been world class, take a bow
— Terry Flewers (@terryflewers) November 23, 2024
If Maddison showed his ability consistently he’d be one of the main England starters. Unreal talent
— Jemma (@designwithjemma) November 23, 2024
THIS IS LITERALLY JAMES MADDISON pic.twitter.com/TClWsD2ZKx
— snehaaa (@sneharants) November 23, 2024
All of that in the first 45 minutes, buckle up.
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