Manchester City lost 1-0 to Brighton at the Etihad Stadium as Yasin Ayari’s early goal decided Saturday’s Premier League meeting. City could not find an equaliser despite sustained pressure and several important saves from Bart Verbruggen.
Manchester City and Brighton line up before kick-off at the Etihad Stadium. Photo: Tom Flathers / Manchester City FC via Getty Images, Facebook. Photograph reduced within a branded landscape frame.
The result came three days after City beat the same opponents on penalties in the Carabao Cup. This time Brighton protected their lead, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side with a second successive league defeat.
Ayari strikes early
Brighton went ahead in the 11th minute. Matheus Nunes’ miscued clearance helped the ball reach Ayari, who finished from close range after Maxim De Cuyper’s involvement.
Maresca had made 10 changes from the cup tie, with Ayyoub Bouaddi the only player to retain his starting place. Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma returned, while Nunes was back after injury.
Iliman Ndiaye offered City a route back into the game. He headed wide from Elliot Anderson’s cross before testing Verbruggen at the near post, but Brighton held their one-goal advantage at half-time.
Verbruggen keeps City out
Ndiaye threatened again after the interval, running through and striking a shot that Verbruggen tipped onto the crossbar. The Brighton goalkeeper also denied Nunes, while a Haaland header was more comfortably dealt with.
City continued to commit players forward, but Brighton still had chances to extend their lead. De Cuyper fired over from a good position and later forced Donnarumma into a save with a header.
Manchester City pressure brings no equaliser
Nico O’Reilly went close near the end after Verbruggen saved from Abdukodir Khusanov, but his header went narrowly wide. Brighton also threatened on the counter, with Jack Hinshelwood unable to finish a late opportunity.
City kept searching into added time. Jérémy Doku tested Verbruggen again, and Donnarumma went forward for a final corner, but the visitors cleared to secure the points.
Wednesday’s shootout success offered no protection in the league rematch. City finished without a goal as Brighton turned Ayari’s early finish and Verbruggen’s saves into an away win.
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Sources: Manchester City’s official match report, BBC Sport’s match report and TNT Sports’ full-time coverage.
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What most frustrated you in Manchester City’s defeat by Brighton, and why?