Manchester City

Brighton had never won a top-flight game at the Etihad. Sixteen times they had come to Manchester City in the league and gone home without a victory. On Wednesday night they lost here again, on penalties in the Carabao Cup, and Fabian Hürzeler said City "had the luck". He kept his squad in the north-west for the rematch. It was worth the stay.

In front of 60,503 at the Etihad, Yasin Ayari's goal on 11 minutes was enough. Bart Verbruggen did the rest, making seven saves as City threw 21 shots at him. The leaders have now lost back-to-back league games, and these are testing times for Enzo Maresca.

Just as on Wednesday

Maresca had kept his word. It was "Gigio plus 10", Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, though Marc Guéhi and Rayan Cherki were dropped after the defeat at Villa, with Matheus Nunes and Ayyoub Bouaddi brought in. City started on the front foot. It was Brighton who scored, just as they had on Wednesday, and it came from a free-kick that should probably never have been given. Elliot Anderson was penalised for a challenge on Ayari. Lewis Dunk swept the ball out to Diego Gómez, Nunes missed the cross, Maxim De Cuyper knocked it back in, and Ayari swept it into an empty net with Donnarumma stranded.

Brighton have started the season oh so well. A little blip as of late but we know that they are going to be brave and bold and press Manchester City.

Chris Sutton, former Blackburn striker, BBC Radio 5 Live, before the goal

City came at them. A corner very nearly reached Erling Haaland at the back post, and Joško Gvardiol headed the next one well wide. Iliman Ndiaye leapt highest at a corner and should have equalised but headed off target, then swerved between two defenders only to shoot straight at Verbruggen. Haaland swung at fresh air after Jérémy Doku's cut-back. Elliot Anderson fired into an empty net, but the flag was already up. At the other end, Donnarumma had to save from a tight angle to stop Charalampos Kostoulas.

Then came the penalty appeals. Vušković touched Diego Gómez's ball with his hand from close range, and Ndiaye's ball across the box appeared to hit Dunk's hand. VAR looked at the second, and Craig Pawson blew for half-time instead. The boos at the break were presumably for the officials.

Verbruggen stands tall

Brighton should have had a second early in the second half. Ayari timed his run perfectly and put it on a plate for De Cuyper, who blasted over. Donnarumma then had to dive at his near post to stop De Cuyper's header from a looping ball.

Just before that, Verbruggen had made a better save at the other end. Ndiaye drove from halfway on the counter and Verbruggen dived to his left to tip it onto the woodwork. Maresca sent on Rayan Cherki, then Nico O'Reilly, then Phil Foden and Allan for Ndiaye and Gvardiol, with Doku still on. It was everything on the attack.

The moment that summed up City's afternoon came after Cherki's arrival. The ball came across the box and Haaland looked certain to tap in, until Vušković slid in and nudged it back to his own keeper. Maresca screamed at the fourth official that it was a backpass. Nobody agreed.

How could Luka Vuskovic mean that? If he leaves it, then Erling Haaland will tap it in. What is he supposed to do?

Chris Sutton, BBC Radio 5 Live

City run out of ideas

Haaland headed straight at Verbruggen. Verbruggen saved from Nunes. Doku worked his way into the box and O'Reilly's ball across the six-yard line found Ndiaye at the back post, but he couldn't direct it on target. Late on, O'Reilly had the best chance of all and couldn't get his header on target. Brighton almost had a second on the break when substitute Jack Hinshelwood ran onto Georginio Rutter's pass and chipped Donnarumma, but it went into the side netting.

In stoppage time, Verbruggen made one more big save. City's last corner brought Donnarumma up, and it came to nothing.

City finished with 61% of the ball, 21 shots to seven and eight corners to two. Brighton had the win, and it was their first in the top flight at this ground. City had failed to score at home in the league for the first time in 23 games, since a 2-0 defeat by Tottenham in August 2025.

"A bit strange"

Maresca had seen this film before, at Villa Park.

A bit strange. The same feeling as after Aston Villa away. We did enough to deserve something more but we have to move on and try to win games.

Enzo Maresca, Manchester City manager, to BBC Match of the Day

We did everything to be honest. Sometimes you struggle to score and the important thing is we created the chances. The attitude was good, I have nothing to say about that or the performance. Players fought until the end and hopefully next time we are more lucky.

Enzo Maresca

Brilliant performance from Brighton. What a team they are. Fabulous Fabian Hurzeler has them so well drilled. They have goals in them, and boy can they defend as well. Why not Brighton for a title challenge this season?

Chris Sutton, BBC Radio 5 Live

"You need to suffer"

Hürzeler, who had complained about the luck on Wednesday, was happy to admit his side had some of their own this time.

On Wednesday we missed the luck, today we had a bit of luck but you have to deserve the luck and everyone worked hard for today.

Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton head coach, to BBC Match of the Day

It was a completely defensive performance where everyone had the mindset 'I need to defend'. We would have preferred to have more of the ball but in certain moments you know when you come here you need to suffer and defend well in the box.

Fabian Hürzeler

Football is a lot about belief. You need to have players who spread that belief and Bart is a prime example of that.

Fabian Hürzeler

It was Brighton's first win at City in any competition, at the 18th attempt.

Unbelievable feeling. We go 1-0 up and then to hang tight the last 30-40 minutes we completely lost control of the game. The manager said this morning we have to dig deep and that's what we did.

Bart Verbruggen, Brighton goalkeeper, to Sky Sports

The amount of bodies put on the line today is incredible and credit to all the boys and staff and how hard we worked to keep the clean sheets.

Bart Verbruggen

We created a lot of chances. Disappointing to lose. Didn't manage to put chances away, on another day we put three or four away.

Elliot Anderson, Manchester City midfielder

We're all disappointed. Not good enough, we don't want to be losing games but we've got to stick together. We've had a great start to the season, two disappointing results now but we have to stick together.

Elliot Anderson