Man City edge Coventry, Spurs stumble again in Premier League weekend

Erling Haaland's goal gave Manchester City a narrow victory over Coventry City, while Tottenham Hotspur were held to another goalless draw by Nottingham Forest in a mixed weekend for Premier League contenders.

Manchester City made the most of a tight contest at home as Haaland produced the decisive moment in a 1-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry. The result keeps City moving forward, with the Norway striker once again proving the difference in a game where chances were at a premium.

For Tottenham, however, the early-season concerns have deepened. Roberto De Zerbi's side were held 0-0 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, leaving Spurs still searching for their first Premier League victory and, more significantly, their first league goal of the campaign.

Elsewhere in England, Newcastle United remained unbeaten after drawing 1-1 with Bournemouth at St James' Park, while Hull City and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw.

Across Europe, Athletic Club produced one of the weekend's standout results with a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid, while Schalke 04 held Bayern Munich to a 0-0 draw. Inter Milan also produced a dramatic comeback, recovering to beat Napoli 3-2.

Haaland makes the difference for Manchester City

Manchester City welcomed Coventry to the Etihad Stadium knowing that a victory would be important as the season develops. Haaland supplied the only goal of the contest, ensuring Enzo Maresca's side collected all three points despite Coventry making the game competitive.

The result underlined one of City's biggest strengths: the ability to turn a relatively even contest into a victory through individual quality. For Haaland, the goal adds to his growing influence at the start of another Premier League campaign.

Tottenham's scoring problem becomes a bigger concern

Tottenham's 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest was not necessarily a disastrous performance in isolation, but the wider context makes the result considerably more worrying.

Spurs have now gone through their opening three Premier League matches without scoring. That is a sequence De Zerbi will need to address quickly, particularly after Tottenham invested heavily during the summer transfer window.

The Italian manager, however, insisted he was not worried about the team's current position. Instead, De Zerbi argued that Tottenham's problem was decision-making in the final third rather than a fundamental inability to create opportunities.

"We could have scored three or four goals today," De Zerbi said, pointing to situations where Tottenham chose the wrong option near the Forest penalty area.

He highlighted several moments involving players such as Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel and Savio, suggesting that better decisions could have produced a very different scoreline.

De Zerbi also stressed that the squad is still developing, noting that the group had only recently begun working together following the summer's extensive recruitment.

Forest frustrated by VAR decision

While Tottenham left with a point, Nottingham Forest felt they had done enough to win the game. Neco Williams appeared to have given Forest the lead, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review for handball.

Forest manager Oliver Glasner was particularly critical of the intervention.

He argued that the evidence was not sufficiently clear for VAR to overturn the on-field decision, especially given the higher threshold for intervention that had been discussed before the season.

Glasner said the technology should not intervene when the evidence amounts to an interpretation rather than a clear error. The disallowed goal ultimately proved decisive as neither side could find a winner.

Newcastle stay unbeaten

Newcastle United also maintained their unbeaten start with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at St James' Park. The Magpies continue to collect points, although the dropped points at home will leave them wanting more from the encounter.

Newcastle's early form remains encouraging, particularly as the club continues to adapt to changes within the squad and coaching structure.

Goalless draw for Hull and Aston Villa

Hull City and Aston Villa also shared the points after a 0-0 draw. The result extended Villa's search for a first Premier League victory, while Hull continued their own attempt to establish themselves against top-flight opposition.

Neither side could find the breakthrough despite periods of pressure.

Big results across Europe

The action was not limited to England. In Spain, Athletic Club produced an emphatic 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, securing one of the weekend's most impressive results in LaLiga.

Germany produced another surprise as Schalke 04 held Bayern Munich to a 0-0 draw. Italy provided the drama, with Inter Milan fighting back to defeat Napoli 3-2 in a game that swung decisively in the latter stages.

The results offered another reminder that the early weeks of the European season can quickly reshape the narrative around clubs, managers and title contenders.

What to watch next

Manchester City's victory keeps Haaland and his side moving in the right direction, but Tottenham's situation deserves closer attention.

De Zerbi has defended his team's performances and pointed to poor decision-making rather than a lack of attacking quality. The next few league matches will reveal whether that assessment proves correct.

For Spurs, however, the immediate objective is straightforward: score a goal and finally turn performances into their first Premier League win.

SportsLigue