Carabao Cup Final: Can Spurs Live with Manchester City?

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester City and Spurs meet in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday, when the first silverware of the English season is up for grabs.

And to make the occasion all the more special, 8,000 fans will be in the stadium and that is sure to give the place a true cup final feel, after last season’s showcases were played behind closed doors.

Manchester City have won this trophy for the last three years and the very latest

Carabao Cup 2021 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, are backing the Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues to pick up their fourth in a row, and the first trophy of this campaign at odds of 1.30, while Spurs are 3.38 to win their first silverware since 2008.

The game has added intrigue as the Premier League’s youngest manager, Ryan Mason, is in charge of Spurs while Manchester City aim for a treble; and both sides are sweating on the fitness of a star player.

 

Talking Points

Three trophies left for Manchester City

Manchester City crashed out of the FA Cup, beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in last weekend’s semi-final. The previous week they went down to another surprise defeat, losing 2-1 to Leeds United in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium. But between those two defeats the Sky Blues ensured they still have the Champions League in their sights after seeing off Borussia Dortmund in the quarter finals of Europe’s flagship tournament.

And Pep Guardiola’s side recovered from the FA Cup exit with a well earned 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday night, to restore their 11 point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Sky Blues were behind after 20 seconds but goals from the ever improving Phil Foden and midfield ace Rodri won the points after defender John Stones had been sent off.

Stones is likely to be back in defence for this final, but Guardiola is currently uncertain whether he will have his best player, Kevin de Bruyne, available for the final. The 29 year old Belgian has just committed his future to Manchester City until 2025, but he limped off in the FA Cup semi-final and sat out the victory over Villa, nursing a foot injury.  With five goals and 11 assists from 24 top flight games he’s a key man, but if he doesn’t make it that will probably ensure Foden secures a starting place.

 

Can Mason end Spurs’ trophy drought?

One week ago Spurs caretaker boss Ryan Mason was the head of player development at the club, but after a week of utter turmoil in European football he now finds himself leading Tottenham out at Wembley for a cup final, and in front of fans!

Mason, who turns 30 in June, thought he’d still be playing the game; but a horrific head injury while playing for Hull in 2018 ended his career, and he now aims to make his name in management and he could make the perfect start. Following the announcement of the ultimately failed European Super League, former head coach Jose Mourinho was sacked. It seemed an odd decision to get rid of the serial trophy winner just before the club had a rare opportunity to end its potless run.

But Mason has his chance and he’ll be determined to take it. In his first game in charge he oversaw a 2-1 victory over Southampton as Spurs kept their dwindling Champions League hopes alive. It was a nervy win; Danny Ings put the Saints ahead with a brilliantly glanced header and Tottenham were behind until Gareth Bale curled in a beauty on the hour, before Heung-Min Son converted a last minute penalty.

The fitness of talisman Harry Kane is in doubt after the striker injured his ankle in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Everton last week, and Mason is unsure whether he will make the big day.

 

History

Tottenham’s long wait for a trophy is the source of endless amusement for their Premier League rivals, notably their North London neighbours Arsenal.

Spurs’ most recent league win was in 1961, and since they last picked up any piece of silverware, the EFL Cup in 2008, Manchester City have won that trophy (now known as the Carabao Cup) five times as well as four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.

Manchester City reached the final by beating Manchester United 2-0 in the semi-final while Spurs overcame Championship high flyers Brentford by the same margin.

The two teams last met in February when a brace from Ilkay Gundogan and a penalty converted by Rodri gave the Sky Blues a comfortable 3-0 victory.

 

Betting Tip

	Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur	Over 2.50 @ 1.88
	April 25, 23:30 (GMT+8)

City are at 1.50 to win this match in 90 minutes, with the draw at 3.88 and Spurs at 5.61, and if Mason can somehow overturn those odds he may get his own statue on the Tottenham Court Road!

I doubt he can, but we’ll see when we’re back on Sunday with all the best Carabao Cup 2021 highlights; when I don’t imagine we’ll be short of goalmouth action!

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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