Kevin De Bruyne picks Tottenham’s lock to win battle of the supersubs

James Maddison had been jogging up and down the touchline with growing purpose, his gaze constantly drawn to the technical area, for at least five minutes when the call came. A contest that had hardly risen above a dull hum was 72 minutes old and needed something, or someone. Tottenham fans had only known him for three months and 11 competitive games before he hurt his ankle in November. The noise that welcomed his return to the pitch said volumes about the dizzying romance that all parties had entered last summer.

The scenario may have been set for a quick resumption of the love affair, but Manchester City had already summoned a comeback king who changes games as easily as mere mortals breathe. Kevin De Bruyne has not started a match in five and a half months and was not deemed ready to play today, making his third substitute appearance since his hamstring problems were resolved. While Maddison tried to reach Ange Postecoglou’s line of sight, Pep Guardiola calmly used his most powerful weapon. De Bruyne injected the aggressive penetration that City had lacked for more than an hour, despite their weaving patterns and half-chances to shoot, and his influence eventually picked the lock.

This had always felt like a night dominated by players outside of the starting lineup. Son Heung-min led Tottenham’s list of regulars sidelined by international tournaments or injury, while Erling Haaland’s continued absence from City’s ranks needs no explanation. The absence of such crucial components as urgency, physicality, and class was always going to weaken the offerings here. The presence of Maddison and De Bruyne on their respective benches did, however, appear to enrich it.

After Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was pickpocketed by Phil Foden, De Bruyne had the game’s greatest chance but went wide in the 82nd minute, raising the possibility of rust at the age of 32. De Bruyne had turned things on their head in his previous game against Newcastle, but perhaps the old rhythm was not fully activated.