“It’s tough. It’s cruel but we have to accept it,” Those were the words of Pep Guardiola when football betting odds were stunned by the early concept of VAR in 2019. His Manchester City side thought they had done enough to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League quarter-finals, but Raheem Sterling’s goal was denied. The Tottenham vs Man City odds always had Guardiola’s swashbuckling side as the favourites, but few would believe the drama that ensured when the two met almost six years ago.
As Spurs and City prepare to renew hostilities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in this season’s Premier League, the electric atmosphere of their encounters continues to captivate football’s imagination. Few fixtures in recent years have produced such consistent drama, with each meeting carrying the weight of their shared history.
Yet no chapter in this modern rivalry quite matches the breathless intensity of their 2019 Champions League quarter-final. It was a tie that would not only define both clubs’ European ambitions but also herald football’s new technological era, as VAR made its presence felt in the most dramatic circumstances possible.
In this article, we take a trip down memory lane and assess how each team’s seasons would be defined by two classic games in the Champions League.
First leg: (April 9, 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
The story began at Tottenham’s gleaming new stadium, making its European debut. The sense of occasion was palpable, the north London air crackling with anticipation as these familiar foes prepared to write a new chapter in their evolving rivalry.
The first leg showcased the tactical chess match between Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola. While City dominated possession, Spurs demonstrated the resilience that would characterise their entire Champions League campaign.
When Heung-Min Son broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, the new stadium erupted with a noise that seemed to shake its very foundations. Yet the victory came at a devastating cost – Harry Kane’s ankle injury following a challenge with Fabian Delph cast a shadow over Spurs’ celebrations.
Second leg: (April 17, 2019, Etihad Stadium)
If the first leg was tense, the return fixture at the Etihad defied description. Within 21 minutes, both sides had produced enough drama for an entire season. Raheem Sterling’s early opener was quickly answered by Son’s quickfire double, before Bernardo Silva and Sterling again contributed to one of the most frantic opening periods in Champions League history.
The tactical plans of both managers seemed to evaporate in the Manchester night air, replaced by raw, end-to-end football that captured the competition’s essence. When Sergio Agüero fired City ahead on aggregate in the 59th minute, it appeared the hosts’ superior quality would finally tell.
Fernando Llorente’s controversial goal eight minutes, subjected to one of the most scrutinised VAR reviews in the technology’s early days, shifted the pendulum once more for 4-4. The tension during those minutes of review was palpable, as players, staff, and 55,000 fans waited to learn their fate.
Yet even this drama would be eclipsed in stoppage time. When Sterling appeared to have completed his hat-trick and sent City through, the Etihad erupted in scenes of unbridled joy. Guardiola raced down the touchline, Pochettino sank to his knees – but VAR had one final twist to deliver.
The technology’s intervention, spotting an offside in the build-up, created a moment that encapsulated football’s capacity for emotional extremes. City’s ecstasy transformed into despair, while Spurs’ despair gave way to disbelieving celebration.
This tie’s impact extended beyond the immediate aftermath. For City, it became another chapter in their complex relationship with European football, a story that wouldn’t find redemption until their triumph in Istanbul four years later.
For Spurs, while their subsequent final appearance ended in disappointment against Liverpool, this quarter-final victory remains a testament to their ability to produce moments of magic on the grandest stage.
As these teams prepare to meet again, the memory of that April night serves as a reminder of football’s unrivalled capacity for drama. While VAR has become more embedded in the game’s fabric, few decisions have carried such weight or generated such raw emotion as those that defined this unforgettable European classic.