Brighton had travelled to Manchester City 17 times without a win in any competition. The 18th visit, just three days after a League Cup exit on penalties at the same stadium, finally ended differently. A first-half goal from Yasin Ayari, who had failed from the spot in Wednesday’s shootout, was enough for a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
It came in the 11th minute, and City will not enjoy the replay. Elliot Anderson was penalised for a challenge on Ayari that looked harmless, Lewis Dunk rolled the free kick out to Diego Gomez, who whipped in a cross. Nunes miskicked, De Cuyper returned the loose ball into the box, and with Donnarumma stranded Ayari had the simplest of finishes.
The rest of the afternoon was mostly City pressing forward. Enzo Maresca’s side fired 21 shots, their highest total in a goalless home league game since late 2024. Iliman Ndiaye headed one gilt-edged chance wide, saw a weaving solo run end in Bart Verbruggen’s gloves and later watched the Dutch goalkeeper tip a fierce strike onto the crossbar. Verbruggen finished with seven saves, and two City handball appeals were waved away.
Maresca insisted his team had played well enough to earn at least a point, but the numbers make uncomfortable reading. After last weekend’s loss at Aston Villa, City have now been beaten in two straight league games, something that had not happened to them since the summer of 2025. It also ended a run of 23 home league matches in which they had always found the net.
For Fabian Hurzeler’s team the momentum keeps building. Brighton have picked up five victories from their last half-dozen league outings, keeping a clean sheet every time they won, and they beat Arsenal last month too. They sit third on 19 points, two behind both City and Arsenal.
