Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City suffered their fourth consecutive defeat after a 2-1 loss to Brighton, a team playing a style reminiscent of Guardiola’s own philosophy.
Despite City taking an early lead through Erling Haaland, Brighton’s resilience and dynamic play, spearheaded by substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley, saw them turn the game around in the second half.
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The match began with a vintage Haaland goal, capitalizing on an excellent pass from Mateo Kovacic. Despite Haaland’s efforts, Brighton grew into the game, with their counterattacks, led by the pacey Kaoru Mitoma, eventually unsettling City’s defense. City looked fluid in possession, with Rico Lewis and Savinho impressing, but Brighton’s counterplay proved more decisive as the match wore on.
Brighton’s equalizer came in the 69th minute through Joao Pedro, who capitalized on hesitation in City’s defense to score. Five minutes later, a quick combination between Pedro and O’Riley saw the latter score the winner on his Premier League debut.
For Guardiola, the defeat marked a rare crisis for the once-dominant City side. After a period of dominance, they now face back-to-back away losses in the Premier League, along with defeats in the Carabao Cup and Champions League. The team struggled with Brighton’s aggression and movement, and Guardiola’s post-match mood reflected his frustration with the result.
While Brighton celebrated their hard-fought victory, City’s defense will face scrutiny as they prepare for their next challenges.
