This clash between two Champions League hopefuls ended in a draw, leaving Manchester City in fifth place, just one point ahead of seventh-placed Brighton. With Newcastle positioned between them and holding a game in hand, the draw favored them as they could surpass City in the standings.
Matchday 29 marked the beginning of the final stretch of the season, with ten games remaining. With several teams vying for a European spot, the competition is set for an exciting climax.
Both teams had late chances to claim all three points. Nico González’s header hit the post, and Carlos Baleba missed an open goal. Ultimately, a draw was a fair result, reflecting City’s inconsistency and Brighton’s steady improvement.
Pep Guardiola’s selection choices were notable. Ederson was absent due to fitness concerns, and surprisingly, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, and Kevin De Bruyne all started on the bench. Despite this, City took the lead early when Savinho was fouled by Adam Webster, leading to a penalty that Erling Haaland confidently converted in the 11th minute.
Brighton, however, remained aggressive, pressing high and forcing errors from City’s defense. Kaoru Mitoma had a goal disallowed for a foul on Stefan Ortega before the visitors found their equalizer. Pervis Estupiñán unleashed a powerful free-kick that struck the post and went in, leaving Ortega motionless.
City struggled with precision throughout the match. Misplaced passes and defensive lapses allowed Brighton to capitalize on opportunities. A well-executed passing move saw Savinho and Omar Marmoush link up, but Jan Paul van Hecke’s last-ditch tackle deflected the shot wide.
Ilkay Gündogan initially squandered a chance but redeemed himself by setting up Marmoush, whose long-range strike bounced in off the post, restoring City’s lead just before halftime. However, their defensive frailties were exposed again moments later when a miscommunication between Josko Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, and Abdukodir Khusanov gifted João Pedro a chance, though he missed the target.
Brighton equalized early in the second half due to a defensive mishap. Jérémy Doku’s dazzling footwork created a chance that City failed to finish, and from the resulting corner, Webster’s header found Jack Hinshelwood, whose wayward shot was inadvertently turned in by Khusanov.
João Pedro had a golden opportunity to put Brighton ahead but inexplicably missed the ball from point-blank range. Guardiola introduced Foden in the 76th minute for an injured Silva, and City dominated the closing stages with Doku causing constant problems down the left flank.
Despite City’s late pressure, Brighton held firm and could be the happier side with the result, as they continued to show resilience and tactical discipline in a tough away fixture.
