Tottenham analysis: How did Joao Palhinha fare against Manchester City? Thomas Frank’s Spurs march on
Tottenham Hotspur continued their torment of Manchester City on Saturday, beating Pep Guardiola’s men 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Thomas Frank made two changes from Spurs’ 3-0 win against Burnley last weekend, with summer signing Joao Palhinha making his first start.
The 30-year-old moved to North London on a season-long loan from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, with an option to buy for £26million.
With previous Premier League experience under Marco Silva at Fulham, the midfielder is a solid addition.
The Portuguese international made the switch to Germany after an impressive stint in West London two years ago, but it never quite clicked at the Allianz Arena.
Palhinha bags at the Etihad
Palhinha was pivotal in bringing all three points home to North London with an all-action performance.
The midfielder scored his first goal in Lilywhite colours just before half-time.
Pape Matar Sarr’s interception of a loose pass from goalkeeper James Trafford ended up at Palhinha’s feet, who blasted a deflected shot into an empty net.
The goal gave the away side a two-goal advantage at halftime.
But his role in protecting the clean sheet away from home earned him plaudits from his supporters.
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Solid at the back
Defensively, Palhinha stood out in a brilliant Spurs midfield, making four tackles.
Importantly, the Portuguese midfielder made a vital block from an Omar Marmoush shot destined for goal, after some sloppy play at the back.
On top of this, Palhinha made two clearances and won eight duels, drawing one foul.
His shift at the back is a large reason why Spurs looked so comfortable defensively, having finally got a proper destroyer in the midfield.
On the ball, Palhinha covered every blade of grass, with involvement in every area of the pitch over his 89 minutes.
Palhinha’s pass accuracy tallied up to 85%, with one successful dribble, playing a key role in Spurs' buildup from the back.
The key for him this season will be staying disciplined and fit, following a few months of injury last year.
Involved at both ends of the pitch, it is becoming more apparent that Palhinha’s loan signing is a smart bit of business in a quiet window for Tottenham Hotspur.
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