Man City struggles at Etihad, complicating their title race

(Football results) - Man City let down fans as Brighton held them to a 1-1 draw at Etihad, causing a noticeable setback for Pep Guardiola’s squad in the Premier League championship battle.

In the early hours of January 8 (Vietnam time), Manchester City missed a crucial chance to win as Brighton secured a 1-1 draw at Etihad, during the 21st round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. This outcome puts Pep Guardiola’s side at a significant disadvantage in the title fight.

From the start, Man City quickly dominated possession. In the opening minutes, Guardiola’s players relentlessly pressed Brighton’s goal with short passes and crosses from both wings. However, the visitors’ defense and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen stood firm under intense pressure.

After persistent efforts, the home team finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. Following Jeremy Doku’s fall inside the box, VAR intervened and referee Thomas Bramall awarded a penalty to Man City. From the spot, Erling Haaland calmly converted, putting Man City ahead 1-0 before halftime.

In the second half, Brighton abandoned their defensive stance and pushed forward. The fast breaks led by Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter began to trouble Man City’s defense. In the 60th minute, the visitors were rewarded. Receiving a pass from Yasin Ayari, Mitoma controlled the ball perfectly and fired a precise shot from outside the box into the low corner, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma with no chance, leveling the score at 1-1.

The remaining minutes featured an exciting attacking exchange. Man City introduced offensive players like Rayan Cherki, Rico Lewis, and Nico O’Reilly in search of a winning goal. Haaland and Cherki had clear chances, but their shots either missed the target or were heroically blocked by Brighton’s defense on the goal line.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw. With only one point gained, Man City now trails Arsenal by 5 points and has played one more game, placing themselves at a major disadvantage in the title race this Premier League season.