Spurs Rally Late to Earn Point Against Man City in Thrilling League Encounter
Tottenham Hotspur staged an impressive second-half recovery to salvage a 2–2 draw against Manchester City in Sunday night’s final Premier League game. Pep Guardiola’s side looked in control after first-half strikes from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, but Spurs showed resilience after the break to claw their way back into the contest.
City took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Erling Haaland combined neatly with Bernardo Silva before unselfishly teeing up Cherki, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and placed a low effort into the corner. Semenyo then doubled the visitors’ advantage just before the interval, leaving Spurs facing an uphill task.
Tottenham’s comeback began when Dominic Solanke sparked hope with a clever run into the box, resulting in a goal later credited as a Marc Guehi own goal. Seventeen minutes on, Solanke delivered a moment of brilliance, looping an acrobatic scorpion-style finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma to bring the scores level. Both sides pushed for a winner late on, but neither could find a decisive breakthrough.
Spurs 2–2 City: A Glimmer of Positivity Despite Injury Crisis
Tottenham struggled to find rhythm in the opening half, with Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma appearing laboured in midfield, Solanke largely isolated early, and Guglielmo Vicario unable to fully impose himself in goal.
Radu Dragusin endured a difficult evening at the heart of defence. Since arriving from Genoa in January 2024, the Romanian centre-back has found opportunities limited, largely behind the established pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. Prior to this match, Dragusin had made just 39 appearances, amounting to 2,610 minutes across two seasons.
Having only recently returned from a serious knee injury and with Van de Ven unavailable, the 23-year-old was handed a rare league start. City’s attacking trio of Cherki, Haaland and Semenyo consistently tested Spurs’ back line, placing Dragusin under constant pressure.
However, the wider circumstances offer some mitigation. Tottenham were without 12 injured players and had just 12 senior outfield options available, while Dragusin himself had not started a competitive match in over a year.
Dragusin vs Manchester City – Match Stats
Minutes: 90
Touches: 46
Pass completion: 31/36 (86%)
Tackles: 1
Clearances: 4
Ground duels won: 1/2 (50%)
Errors leading to goals: 1
Match rating: 4.8
Roma Links and Fan Frustration Grow
Interest from AS Roma has continued to swirl, with reports suggesting a potential loan move until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea, has previously spoken positively about negotiations, although no deal has yet materialised.
Debate over the defender’s future has intensified, particularly after his performance against City. Many Spurs fans believe a loan or permanent exit could suit all parties, and social media reaction following the match reflected growing frustration.
League Form Now the Priority for Spurs
Despite individual struggles, Tottenham’s immediate focus must be on improving their Premier League position. Currently sitting 14th, Spurs need to build momentum domestically before turning their attention back to Champions League football in March, with the aim of distancing themselves from any lingering relegation concerns.
