Yasin Ayari scored in the 11th minute as Brighton won 1-0 at Manchester City, handing Enzo Maresca’s side a second straight Premier League defeat. City stay top on goal difference, but Brighton are now only two points behind the leaders after their first away league win over City.
Manchester, England: The early goal was enough. Brighton absorbed City’s pressure at the Etihad Stadium, protected a one-goal lead for almost 80 minutes, and left Maresca admitting the mood felt much like the one that followed last week’s defeat at Aston Villa.
A set piece City could not clear
Brighton’s first meaningful attack produced the decisive moment. A set-piece move in the City half was not cleared properly, the ball dropped to Ayari, and the midfielder finished with his left foot in the 11th minute. It was his third league goal of the season and the second in his last three league games.
City, whose perfect start to the league season had ended with that 2-1 defeat at Villa, never looked comfortable after the goal. Maresca brought back Erling Haaland, Rúben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Joško Gvardiol, all of whom had been rested for the Carabao Cup tie in midweek, but the changes did not bring the fluency of earlier in the season.
Verbruggen stands firm
Haaland was closely marked by the Brighton defence for most of the afternoon, and Jérémy Doku and the City wide players struggled to create a breakthrough. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki came off the bench as the home side chased the game and pressed late, forcing Bart Verbruggen into saves, including one from Doku. The Brighton goalkeeper was outstanding and preserved the clean sheet.
For Brighton it was another strong result in a run that has seen them beat both Arsenal and City in the league this season. They now sit two points off the top of the table.
Maresca searches for answers
Maresca pointed to the similarity with the Villa game. City, he said, are among the league’s highest scorers but are conceding goals that could have been avoided. That is a concern for a side that began the campaign unbeaten and now has two defeats in a row in the Premier League.
Attention shifts to Sunday, when Arsenal visit Liverpool. If Arsenal avoid defeat, they will move to the top of the table, adding more pressure on City to respond quickly.
Result: Manchester City 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League, Etihad Stadium). Brighton: Ayari 11’. City remain top on goal difference; Brighton are two points off the lead.
