The Big Match: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup final

EFL Cup final: Manchester City v Tottenham

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Match odds - 90 minutes

11-20 Man City, 11-2 Tottenham, 15-4 draw

Form

Manchester City avoided three straight defeats at the hands of English opponents by winning 2-1 at Aston Villa on Wednesday. They have won 29 of their last 32 matches in all competitions.

Spurs snapped a three-game winless streak which cost Jose Mourinho his job by coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1, also on Wednesday, with Ryan Mason at the helm.

Team news

Pep Guardiola has said the injury which kept Kevin De Bruyne out of the Villa game was "less than expected" but it remains to be seen whether he is risked. John Stones is suspended.

Spurs will be praying Harry Kane can overcome an ankle injury, while Matt Doherty and Ben Davies are also doubts.

The tactical battle

The early signs from Mason's first match in charge against Southampton was that Tottenham will look to play higher up the pitch, press harder and pass their way from back to front – but that was Southampton.

The other key takeaway from Mason's first game in charge was that Spurs were really poor for the best part of an hour and are unlikely to get away with that against City.

Whatever Mason would like to do, Tottenham will be forced to play on the counter, although the pace of Heung-Min Son, Lucas Moura and Gareth Bale can be a threat, especially down the side of City's centre-backs.

City will do what City do best - control the ball and possession and hope to make a better fist of it against Spurs than they did against Chelsea last Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final defeat which ruined dreams of a quadruple.

Verdict

There's a more positive air around Tottenham, although they were still second-best to Southampton for periods and that has to be a concern.

Quite how disciplined Tottenham are defensively will determine how competitive they can stay but they have to be confident that when they get the ball they can stretch a City defence who are coughing up chances.

Renowned big-match supremo Mourinho, ironically, probably would have had a game plan for this very occasion. Pep Guardiola, in contrast, will simply back his boys to do what they always do, make the pressure pay and that should be enough.

Man City 2-0 Tottenham

Key stats

• Spurs have failed to win any of their last six finals and semi-finals played at Wembley.
• Gareth Bale has had a direct hand in 11 goals in his last 11 starts in all competitions for Tottenham (nine goals, two assists).
• City win more corners (6.7) and concede less (2.8) than any other side in the top division.
• City (19) and Tottenham (16) have lead at half-time more than any other Premier League clubs this season.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport