- Manchester City beat Brentford 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
- Erling Haaland scored the winning goal, securing City’s victory.
- Manuel Akanji was named Player of the Match for his solid defensive performance.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the match to help Manchester City beat Brentford 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Before this game, Haaland had scored against 20 out of 21 teams in the Premier League, and with this goal, he completed his list. The win moved Manchester City into the second position in the Premier League table, just one point behind Liverpool.
Brentford had some good opportunities in the first half, with Yoane Wissa and Ivan Toney threatening City’s defense. However, City also had their moments, with Julian Alvarez and others coming close to scoring.
The best chance of the first half fell to Oscar Bobb, who almost scored on his Premier League debut, but his shot was cleared off the line. City continued to press in the second half, and finally, Haaland found the back of the net in the 71st minute after a pass from Alvarez.
Although Haaland scored another goal later in the game, it was disallowed for offside. City kept pushing for a second goal, with Phil Foden coming close to scoring in the dying minutes of the match. In the end, City secured the win, much to the relief of the players and fans.
Manuel Akanji was named the Player of the Match for his solid performance in defense. He showcased his versatility by playing in different positions throughout the game.
After the match, Pep Guardiola praised his team’s defensive effort against a tough Brentford side, particularly highlighting their ability to deal with set-pieces. Oscar Bobb expressed his happiness at making his first Premier League start and praised Haaland as one of the best players in the world. Akanji acknowledged Brentford’s defensive strength but emphasized City’s patience and efficiency in front of goal.
With this victory, Manchester City moved up to the second spot in the Premier League table, overtaking Arsenal. It was a crucial win for City as they continue their pursuit of the league title.