Haaland hat-trick chaos as Man City edge Spurs in five-goal Premier League live thriller
05.02.2026 - 12:02:33
Man City 3–2 Tottenham: Haaland goes full monster mode
This one had everything you dream of when you type in "Football results today" – drama, world-class finishing, and a superstar deciding the game almost on his own.
Manchester City started aggressive and took the lead early. In the 14th minute, Kevin De Bruyne split Spurs open with a trademark through ball, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does: one touch to set, second touch to bury it low past the keeper for 1–0.
Tottenham hit back though. On 31 minutes, a quick move down the right saw Dejan Kulusevski cut inside and slide a pass into Son Heung-min. Son froze the defender with a feint, then curled a gorgeous right-foot shot into the far corner for 1–1. Classic Son finish, ice-cold.
City reacted instantly. Just seven minutes later, De Bruyne whipped in a wicked inswinging corner, and Haaland bullied everyone at the near post, thundering a header in for 2–1 and his second of the night. Spurs were screaming for a foul, VAR took a look, but the goal stood – cue massive arguments all over social media.
The second half turned into pure chaos. Spurs came out braver, pressed higher, and were rewarded on 63 minutes when James Maddison drove through midfield, laid it wide to Son, and Son fizzed a low cross into the box. City failed to clear and the ball dropped perfectly for Richarlison, who smashed it in from close range for 2–2. The away end exploded.
But when you’ve got Haaland on the pitch, you’re never safe. On 81 minutes, City launched a lightning counter. Phil Foden carried the ball through the middle, waited for the perfect second, and slipped Haaland in behind. One-on-one, no doubt, no nerves – Haaland opened up his body and rolled it calmly into the far corner to complete his hat-trick and make it 3–2.
In stoppage time came the big talking point: Spurs thought they had a penalty when Maddison went down under a challenge from RĂşben Dias. The ref initially pointed to the spot, the Etihad went silent, but VAR sent him to the monitor. After a long review, the decision was overturned. No penalty, no late equaliser, City survive. That VAR call is exactly what the whole internet is screaming about right now.
Stars on show: heroes and flops
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – Absolute joke of a performance. Hat-trick, constant threat, endless movement. Every time City needed a moment, he delivered. Pure, ruthless No. 9 energy.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – Two assists, tons of control. When he’s healthy, City just look like a different beast. His passing angles shredded Spurs repeatedly.
- Phil Foden (Man City) – Quiet in spells but decisive when it mattered, especially on that third goal. His link-up with Haaland is getting nastier by the week.
- Son Heung-min (Tottenham) – Goal and an assist, led by example. Every dangerous Spurs attack had Son’s fingerprints all over it. He did not deserve to leave without a point.
- James Maddison (Tottenham) – Floated into spaces, created chances, and nearly won a late penalty. Constant spark between the lines.
If you’re keeping track of top scorers today, Haaland just added three more to his ridiculous tally – he’s stretching away at the top of the Premier League scoring charts again.
Title race shockwaves: where does this leave the table?
This result is huge for the current football league table. City’s win keeps them right on the neck of the league leaders and may even send them back to the top depending on other results this weekend. Spurs, meanwhile, lose crucial ground in the Champions League spots battle; the gap is getting nervy for them.
City’s ability to grind out late wins like this, especially on nights when the pressure is suffocating, is why they’re constantly in every Champions League news headline and every Premier League title conversation. The mentality is just different.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: big names, big moments
A quick spin across the continent in today’s soccer news, and the big guns kept firing.
In Spain, Real Madrid grabbed a 2–0 win with Jude Bellingham once again on the scoresheet. The opener came when Bellingham ghosted into the box in the 27th minute, controlling a chipped pass and lashing it into the roof of the net for 1–0. Later, VinĂcius JĂşnior sealed it with a sharp finish at the far post after a low cross from the right. Bellingham’s form is so absurd that every match report feels repetitive: he just keeps deciding games.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain saw Kylian Mbappé bag a brace in a 3–1 win. Mbappé scored first with a penalty, then added a second by cutting inside from the left and drilling a shot inside the near post. Even on nights when PSG aren’t brilliant, Mbappé’s speed and finishing quality carry them. With Champions League nights approaching, this is the exact kind of rhythm PSG fans want to see.
Social Media Spotlight: the VAR meltdown and Haaland hysteria
The internet is absolutely melting down over two things: Haaland’s hat-trick and that late VAR penalty reversal against Tottenham. Clips of the incident are everywhere, freeze-frames from every angle, and split-screen comparisons with past decisions. Spurs fans are furious, City fans are posting memes, and neutrals are just here for the chaos.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the late VAR call and debating if Maddison was fouled
My take: this is why Haaland changes everything
Honestly, watching this one, it felt like Tottenham were right there, toe-to-toe with City. Maddison and Son caused real problems, and for long spells it looked like they might actually steal a point or even more.
But in my opinion, this game is the perfect snapshot of why City are terrifying and why Haaland is on his own planet as a striker. Spurs played well, they pressed, they created – and it still wasn’t enough, because every half-chance to Haaland feels like a goal waiting to happen. Three big opportunities, three goals. That’s title-winning ruthlessness.
On the flip side, Tottenham’s defending on set pieces and transitions just wasn’t sharp enough. You can’t switch off for a second against this City side. If they seriously want to lock down a Champions League place, the back line has to get meaner and way more focused in big away games like this.
As for the VAR call at the end: I get why Spurs fans are raging, but once the ref sees the replay and there’s minimal contact, you can see why he flips the decision. Could it have gone either way? Absolutely. Was it a complete robbery? Probably not. But is it going to fuel arguments for days? Oh yeah.
Closing whistle: the night belongs to Haaland
So, if you’re scrolling through football results today looking for pure drama, this is the one. City edge a 3–2 classic, Haaland drops a hat-trick, and the Premier League title race gets another massive twist. Spurs showed they can live with the very best, but City once again walk away with the points and the headlines.
If you want to see exactly how this result shakes up the race for the top four and the title, dive into the updated standings right now.
Check full stats & standings now
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