A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E 33
15 MARCH 2025
MANCHESTER CITY 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER.
Matchday 29 saw buoyant Albion travel North to take on last season's triple champions Manchester City in the Premier at the Etihad Stadium, the match being broadcast by Talksport 2 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
The Seagulls had yet to gain a point away at City in the Premier. The Albion were on a six-match winning run in all competitions and last time out had beaten Fulham 2-1 at home in the Premier and for the trip to Manchester made one change to their starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Diego Gomez coming in for Yasin Ayari in midfield.
In their previous outing Manchester City had lost 0-1 at Nottingham Forest in the Premier on the 8 March and for Albion's visit manager Pep Guardiola made four changes to his starting line-up from the Forest game, with Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan and Omar Marmoush replacing Ederson (injured), Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
Last season City did a Premier double over the Seagulls, winning 2-1 at the Etihad on the 21 October 2023, with their goals coming from Julian Alvarez (7m) and Erling Haaland (19m). Albion's goal came from loanee Ansu Fati (73m). In the return game at the Amex on the 25 April 2024 City won 4-0, with the goals being scored by Phil Foden 2 (26m & 34m), Kevin De Bruyne (17m) and Julian Alvarez (62m).
Earlier this season in the Premier at the Amex on the 9 November 2024 the Albion beat City 2-1 with their goals coming from Joao Pedro (78m) and Matt O'Riley (83m). City's consolation came from Erling Haaland (23m).
Albion started the game on the front foot and thought they had taken the lead on seven minutes when Kaoru Mitoma bundled the ball home from close-range but the goal was disallowed for handball. Four minutes later City were ahead after Adam Webster had clattered Omar Marmoush in the box and Referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot and up-stepped Erling Haaland to smash home the resultant penalty. It was the Norwegian's 29th goal of the season. 0-1.
It did not take Albion long to get back on terms when on 21 minutes Georginio Rutter was fouled by Nico Gonzalez some 20 yards out and Pervis Estupinan's superbly placed free-kick entered the City net off the far post. 1-1. The Citizen's came close to restoring their lead on 32 minutes but Jan Paul Van Hecke's fine defensive intervention prevented Savinho from scoring.
City restored their lead on 39 minutes when Ilkay Gundogan fed Marmoush some 25 yards out and the Egyptian striker cut in from the left before unleashing a low shot which flashed past Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen and into the net. 1-2.
Prior to the break Joao Pedro saw his shot just miss the target. An entertaining and eventful first-half.
Half-time 1-2.
Within three minutes of the restart the Seagulls were level again when Jack Hinshelwood's shot was turned into his own net by City defender Abdukodir Khusanov for an own goal. 2-2. Minutes later Yankuba Minteh just failed to convert Pedro's low cross. Before the close Gonzalez saw his late header strike the base of Verbruggen's post and Haaland failed to connect with substitute Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick.
In the end honours even and the Albion had gained their first Premier point at Manchester City.
Final-score 2-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 15 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Manchester City had 11 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded -10.
TO SUM UP - A first-ever Premier point at Manchester City and it could so nearly have been three. Albion have come so far in their eight seasons in the Premier. The team is now on its' fourth international break of the season and they come back to a televised FA Cup quarter-final tie with Nottingham Forest on the 29 March.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Jack HINSHELWOOD, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 87), Diego GOMEZ (Yasin AYARI 75); Yankuba MINTEH (Brajan GRUDA 83), Georginio RUTTER (Danny WELBECK 75), Kaoru MITOMA (Simon ADINGRA 83); Joao PEDRO.
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Eiran CASHIN, Joe KNIGHT, Jacob SLATER.
Manchester City line-up (4-2-3-1):- Stefan ORTEGA; Rico LEWIS, Abdukodir KHUSANOV, Ruben DIAS (Capt), Josko VARDIOL; Nico GONZALEZ, Ilkay GUNDOGAN; SAVINHO (Bernardo SILVA 58) (Phil FODEN 76), Omar MARMOUSH (Kevin DE BRUYNE 86), Jeremy DOKU; Erling HAALAND.
Subs not used: Scott CARSON (G/K), Matheus NUNES, Vitor REIS, James McATEE, Mateo KOVACIC, Jack GREALISH.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor. VAR Official: James Bell.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 5 - Bart Verbruggen, Carlos Baleba, Mats Wieffer, Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro.
Manchester City: 2 - Savinho, Jeremy Doku.
Possession: Albion - 40%. Manchester City - 60%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Joao Pedro (Albion).
Attendance: 52471.
NEXT GAME: 29 MARCH 2025 - NOTTIGHAM FOREST - Home - FA Cup, Quarter-Final - kick-off 17.15.
"Live" on BBC 1.