Manchester City vs. Spurs: 10 Things We Learned About the Title Race

Where to begin?

Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 on Sunday in an English Premier League match, and that doesn't even come close to describing what happened.

So what happened? In a word, everything.

City took a two-goal lead. Spurs erased it. All of that happened in nine minutes.

Mario Balotelli kicked Scott Parker's head. The referee didn't see it. Balotelli escaped punishment, then drew and converted the match-winning penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

City won, Spurs lost, and yet all of that still doesn't do the game justice. We were promised a heavyweight bout. City and Spurs delivered the match of the season.

Now City find themselves six points clear at the top of the table pending Manchester United's result later on Sunday against Arsenal. If Roberto Mancini's men end up winning the title, we'll look back at Sunday as a defining moment.

If not, it'll still be the match of the year.

Spurs Are Legit

Spurs lost, but even the most dedicated City fan must admit the result was harsh on the visitors.

And now even the most hardened Arsenal supporter must admit Spurs are genuine contenders. Maybe not for the title—that's probably a two-horse race now—but certainly for "Big 4" status.

After falling behind by two goals in the space of three second-half minutes, Tottenham responded with two of their own in the next five. The fight back displayed Spurs' grit and underlined their bona fides as contenders.

The first was a gift. Stefan Savic placed a terrible header directly in the path of Jermain Defoe, who easily beat City keeper Joe Hart in the 60th minute.

The second was sublime. Gareth Bale equalized with a stunning left-footed shot into Hart's far corner in the 65th minute. The strike was gorgeous and, at the end of the season, we'll see it recounted among the year's best.

The comeback was swift, stunning and courageous. City had given up only four goals at the Etihad all season, yet Spurs scored two in five minutes to erase a seemingly insurmountable deficit.

It wasn't just the rally, though, that proved Tottenham's legitimacy as contenders. Spurs played excellent football for 90 minutes, controlling possession and keeping the ball away from City for long stretches.

That a stoppage-time penalty would settle matters was almost inevitable considering the craziness of the match. Football, as everyone knows, is a harsh mistress, and Spurs paid the price this time.

But it wasn't because they were inferior in any way. Harry Redknapp's men showed they belong with England's best. Come May, they'll be around.

Title-Winning Seasons Turn on Games Like This

If Manchester City win the title, this match will be remembered as an important moment.

City were seconds away from a draw and their first dropped points at home all season. And those dropped points would have been a bitter loss, too, considering Roberto Mancini's men had led by two goals through 59 minutes.

But after Tottenham's stunning comeback—and after Jermain Defoe nearly scored a go-ahead goal for Spurs in stoppage time—City still won. Somehow.

Italian forward Mario Balotelli, who really should have earned a red card for his kick to Scott Parker's head, drew and then converted the winning penalty. There was no doubt about the setting—Ledley King clearly fouled Balotelli—but there were mountains of doubt about the identity of the most important actor.

City won't care. Another win is in the bag and, momentarily at least, they lead Manchester United by six points.

We can debate all we want about whether or not City deserved to win. But it doesn't matter. Sometimes, in title races, you need a bit of luck. City got a heaping dose on Sunday.

Gareth Bale Is a World-Class Player

Gareth Bale equalized for Spurs in the 65th minute. At the end of the season you'll see the goal replayed on the best-of-season lists.

Aaron Lennon cut in from the left side and fed Bale, who curled a left-footed shot into the far corner. Manchester City keeper Joe Hart had no chance.

It was a world-class finish from a world-class player. When Bale equalized, most neutrals had to fancy Spurs to complete a famous comeback win. And thanks to Bale, Tottenham nearly did it.

Early in stoppage time, Bale burst free in the midfield, beat a few defenders and played a cross along the ground to the far post. Jermain Defoe came within an inch or two of making solid contact, but instead hit the ball just past the post.

A centimeter here or there the other way and we'd be talking about how Tottenham are truly challenging for the title.

City Has Chemistry Issues on Offense

City scored three goals, but the forward line never looked fluid, composed or completely in sync.

Sergio Agüero and Edin Dzeko suffered again from a lack of chemistry, as shown by their mix-up on 18 minutes. David Silva and Samir Nasri combined to create a clear chance for Agüero, but Dzeko somehow managed to get in the way and deflect the shot out of bounds.

Speaking of Silva and Nasri, the two combined for City's excellent opener in the 56th minute. But the fact that City's goals came from a midfielder, a defender (Joleon Lescott in the 59th minute) and a late penalty illustrates the struggles of City's forwards on Sunday.

David Silva Is a Game-Changer

City's forwards struggled to achieve consistency, but David Silva conjured the opening goal from thin air in a moment of brilliance.

When the Spanish playmaker picked up the ball near the center circle in the 56th minute, there appeared to be no danger for Tottenham. But a few dribbles and a perfectly weighted through pass later, Spurs were down 1-0 thanks to Samir Nasri's fine strike.

But while Nasri's finish was nice, the goal was all David Silva. Once again, David Silva's vision and skill provided City with the spark necessary for creative play. And once again, David Silva showed how valuable he is.

In some games, that goal might have been enough. But this was not an average game, and instead it opened up play for the next nine minutes. Still, David Silva's skill proved game-changing.

Ledley King Still Played Well

Poor Ledley King. He was clearly at fault on the decisive penalty and there was no doubt about the decision.

But in fairness, that was the only thing King did wrong all day. For the first 94 minutes King was immense at the center of Tottenham's defense.

The result on Sunday wasn't good, and King was ultimately at fault. But his return—Sunday was his first start since December—will provide a boost for Spurs as the season wears on.

Defensive Concerns for City?

Before Sunday, City had conceded only four goals in 10 home matches in the league. On Sunday, they leaked two, and it could have been more.

Stefan Savic was at fault for the first goal after his awful header freed Jermain Defoe. It's doubtful any keeper could have saved Bale's shot, but City's defense was also too slow to close Bale down.

So is defense a problem? There's no verdict yet. Savic was only playing because of the absence of Vincent Kompany. Once Kompany comes back, City should be fine.

But what happens if the injury bug catches up with City?

Disciplinary Concerns for City?

There can be no doubt, on the other hand, that City have disciplinary issues.

Mario Balotelli, who scored the winning goal, got away with a kick to Scott Parker's head. And defender Joleon Lescott got away with a forearm to the head of Younes Kaboul.

Both actions were dirty. Both were disgraceful. Both deserved straight red cards. Neither received the appropriate punishment.

City could—and should—have been playing with nine men at the end of the match. Instead they had all 11 and won thanks to one of the offenders.

City escaped punishment on Sunday, but the FA's wrath could catch up with them in the coming days.

Home Form Could Be Huge

Manchester City's home record this season in the league now reads like this:

Played: 11

Won: 11

Drawn: 0

Lost: 0.

City, in other words, are still perfect at home. And their goal difference—always important in a close title race—is an astounding plus-28 inside the Etihad.

If the title race remains tight, City's home form could prove decisive.

There Are More Twists and Turns Left

It's just a hunch, but here goes: The rest of the season will mirror Sunday's second half at Manchester City.

At halftime, the game was scoreless. By full time, we saw five goals, a stunning comeback, a world-class goal, a narrow miss in stoppage time and finally a match-winning penalty even later in stoppage time.

There were twists. There were turns. No one knew what was going to happen.

Don't be surprised if the season winds its way to a similarly frantic finish.