Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City endured another disappointing outing as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
The result marked consecutive losses for the Sky Blues, raising questions about their form heading into a crucial stage of the Premier League campaign.
Haaland Opens Scoring on Landmark Appearance
Manchester City appeared to be in control after Erling Haaland gave them the lead in the 34th minute. The Norwegian striker, celebrating his 100th Premier League appearance for the club, found the net following a well-placed assist from Omar Marmoush.
Guardiola’s side dominated possession in the first half and went into the break with a slender 1-0 advantage, seemingly poised to return to winning ways.
However, their wastefulness in front of goal soon came back to haunt them. Brighton grew into the game after the restart, exploiting gaps in City’s defence and putting pressure on James Trafford with a series of swift attacking moves.
Milner and Gruda Turn the Game Around
The turning point came when former City midfielder James Milner levelled the score from the penalty spot after an handball incident inside the box. The equaliser injected belief into Brighton, who continued to push for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the dying minutes as Gruda capitalised on a late opportunity, slotting home in the 89th minute to seal a dramatic victory for the Seagulls.
The loss adds to Guardiola’s frustrations, coming just a week after a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City have now managed only three points from their last three league matches, leaving them under pressure in the title race.
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Meanwhile, the team will need to regroup after the international break when they face Manchester United in a high-stakes encounter. With key fixtures ahead, including Champions League commitments, they will need to rediscover their cutting edge to keep their ambitions on track.
