Tottenham’s mini-revival came to an end as they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in north London.
Wilson Odobert, Heung-min Son and Pape Matar Sarr all went close to an equaliser, while Haaland had a second goal ruled out by the VAR in stoppage-time for a handball.
Here are three Spurs talking points from the match…
Did Spurs miss an opportunity?
In a trio of big calls, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou left out captain Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski (their player of the season so far) and Djed Spence (their player of 2025) – with Pedro Porro, James Maddison and Odobert, who was making his first start since September, coming in.
The result was a flat first-half display from Spurs, who struggled to contain City’s wingers Jeremy Doku and Savinho, and offered next to nothing in the way of threat from an experimental front three of Odobert, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson.
But Postecoglou’s side rallied impressively after the break, with Odobert lively and substitutes Sarr and Son going close to a leveller.
A quadruple substitution of Kulusevski, Sarr, Son and Spence, followed by the return of Timo Werner, helped Spurs to stay in the ascendency but they could not fashion an equaliser, with City going closest to another goal when Haaland bundled through to score – only for the VAR to rule out the effort for a handball.
Ange Postecoglou brought on the cavalry in the second half
Getty Images
Spurs’ season now surely comes down to the Europa League and perhaps Postecoglou sensed that already, hence resting key players with the first leg of the last-16 knockout against AZ Alkmaar in eight days time.
But you were left wondering what might have been if Spurs had played Spence, Kulusevski and Son from the start against a fallible City, and whether this should go down as an opportunity missed to win a fourth straight league game.
Another victory would have raised real optimism that Spurs could still salvage their league campaign but, as it is, their remaining 11 matches will feel low-stakes.
Plainly, Kulusevski, who has played every game this season, Son and even Spence need some time out at some point but could Postecoglou have used them more sparingly against Ipswich on Saturday or asked them to go again here ahead of more than a week with no game?
In Son’s place, Odobert was bright from the left flank, leaving you wondering what might have been for the 20-year-old if he had not been injured for most of the season.
The Frenchman came close to a leveller after the break, stretching to meet Porro’s excellent cross, and also saw a deflected shot balloon just beyond the far post after a bright run.
Postecoglou said in the week that Odobert offers something “unique” to this Spurs team and presumably the head coach was talking about his willingness to take on his man in one-on-one situations.
Wilson Odobert made his first start for Tottenham since September
AFP via Getty Images
Odobert gave City’s stand-in right back Matheus Nunes a tricky examination, displaying a willingness to get to the touchline on his left foot or cut inside on his right.
It is still early days for Odbert and Postecoglou has suggested that Spurs fans will not see him at his best again until next season.
But this was a bright return to the side, suggesting the summer signing can make an impact for Spurs over the remaining of this campaign, too.
Postecoglou effectively insisted on Tuesday that it is too early to judge Tel and preached patience with the 19-year-old January signing.
The head coach is right; it is still early days for Tel, who was making just his fourth appearance for the club since joining on loan from Bayern Munich on deadline day.
But this was undoubtedly a tough evening for the teenager.
Tel struggled to make an impression against City’s back four, his only chance coming in his final act of the game, when Destiny Udogie’s pass was taking off his toe by a smart challenge.
Difficult night: Mathys Tel
Getty Images
His hold up play was lacking again, while he was not able to give Spurs a focal point for crosses or direct balls from deep.
Tel is clearly promising but, at this stage of his career, he would surely benefit from playing wide in this Postecoglou team, with Dominic Solanke or Richarlison back through the middle.
With Solanke set to return from injury in seven to 10 days, Tel maybe needed at central striker in one or two more games before he gets a chance to show what he can do in a different position.
