Maddison Shines on Return as Spurs Edge Lackluster Man United
James Maddison made an instant impact on his return from injury, scoring the only goal as Tottenham secured a much-needed 1-0 win over a struggling Manchester United.
After nearly a month on the sidelines with a calf issue, Maddison reacted quickest in the 13th minute, slotting home after Andre Onana parried Lucas Bergvall’s shot. United had opportunities to equalize—most notably through Alejandro Garnacho, who missed a golden one-on-one chance—but another uninspired performance saw them leave empty-handed.
For Spurs, the victory ends a three-game losing streak and lifts them to 12th, offering some relief for manager Ange Postecoglou. United, on the other hand, have now lost three of their last four league games, slipping to 15th in the table, though still 12 points clear of the drop zone.
Spurs Welcome Back Key Players
Tottenham’s recent struggles have been partly due to a lengthy injury list, but Postecoglou will be relieved to have Maddison and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario back in the starting lineup. New loan signing Mathys Tel also impressed on his full league debut, forcing Onana into a smart save. Despite some shaky midfield moments, Spurs showed glimpses of their attacking strength, with Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min both going close.
United’s Injury Crisis Worsens
Ruben Amorim’s side, already stretched thin, suffered yet more setbacks this week, losing top scorer Amad Diallo to a long-term ankle injury, while Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte picked up knocks in training. With Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro also out due to illness, Amorim was forced to start veteran Casemiro in midfield, where he struggled to contain Maddison and Son.
United’s bench was filled with inexperienced teenagers, and Amorim didn’t make a single substitution until the 90th minute, introducing 17-year-old Chido Obi for his senior debut.
Despite their depleted squad, United had their chances. Garnacho squandered two one-on-one opportunities, and Joshua Zirkzee narrowly missed with a late header. But the lack of cutting edge cost them yet again, marking their 13th defeat of the season and ninth under Amorim since November.
Looking Ahead
Tottenham will hope to build on this momentum as their squad regains full fitness, while United face urgent questions about their form as injuries continue to pile up.
