Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered another dent as they were held to a 1–1 draw by a resilient Brighton side at the Etihad Stadium, extending Pep Guardiola’s team’s run to three consecutive league stalemates.
City dominated large spells and created a glut of chances, but familiar wastefulness in front of goal again proved costly. Brighton, meanwhile, showed bravery and belief, responding well to falling behind and leaving Manchester with a point that felt fully earned by the final whistle.
The visitors actually started the sharper. Brighton pressed high and exposed City’s unfamiliar defensive unit early on, forcing a series of openings that should have resulted in a goal. With City fielding a makeshift back line — including 20-year-old debutant Max Alleyne — Brighton found space in behind, but failed to capitalise.
That missed opportunity proved costly. City were handed the lead when Jeremy Doku was brought down in the box, and after a VAR review, Erling Haaland stepped up to convert from the spot. The goal ended a brief scoring drought for the striker and marked his 150th goal in all competitions — another milestone in a remarkable career.
Despite taking the lead, City never truly settled. Brighton emerged with renewed intent after the break and were rewarded quickly. Kaoru Mitoma timed his run perfectly and squeezed a low finish through the legs of Nico González to bring the visitors level, silencing the home crowd and shifting the momentum.
From there, the match opened up dramatically. City poured forward and fashioned chance after chance, but the finishing touch deserted them. Haaland was twice denied — once when Rayan Cherki’s clever pass set him up for a golden opportunity that went begging, and again when a close-range header was hacked off the line by Ferdi Kadioglu. Cherki himself added urgency and invention after coming off the bench, but even his creativity couldn’t unlock Brighton a second time.
Brighton carried their own threat on the counter and almost stole the points when Mitoma struck the post instead of the net after bursting through on goal. Both teams had moments where victory felt within reach, but neither could land the decisive blow.
Statistically, the contest highlighted City’s problem. They registered over 20 attempts and created multiple clear-cut chances, yet managed only one goal. Brighton were less dominant but far more clinical in key moments, and their defensive discipline late on ensured they left with something to show for their efforts.
For Manchester City, the draw further damages their hopes of retaining the title, especially with rivals having the chance to extend their lead at the top. Guardiola praised his side’s performance and commitment but was left exasperated by the inability to convert dominance into goals.
Brighton & Hove Albion will take confidence from another strong display against elite opposition. Head coach Fabian Hürzeler acknowledged his team made mistakes but felt a point was the right outcome given the balance of play and chances.
As City continue to search for ruthlessness in the final third, Brighton once again showed why they are among the league’s most awkward opponents — fearless, organised and capable of matching anyone on their day.
