Manchester City has now overtaken its other competitors in terms of matches after beating Brentford on Tuesday thanks to a solitary goal from Erling Haaland, who scored again to avoid losing the habit (1-0).
Pep Guardiola came out, resting Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku against a team, Thomas Frank, in poor dynamics despite his bold proposal, which sometimes caused difficulties for the citizens.
It is expected that Brentford will choose to close the inside lanes and give the wings, but unlike other teams, they are more cheerful and accurate in their counterattacks, with many players, which worries Manchester City in some points.
There are shots, which cannot be denied. And the reigning Premier League champions started strongly, with one warning from Haaland and two from Foden, especially the second, suggesting it would be easy. But no, Thomas Frank regained control of his approach and that’s how Onyeka had a very clear one-on-one and Toney, the most dangerous, another free kick.
City finished that first half a bit desperate. Flekken saw how where he could not reach, his comrades. From minute 34 to 44, it was a total siege. Bernardo started with a header from a superb position which failed, through Mee he scored a goal from Bobb on the line and, more importantly, Ruben Dias almost surprised from distance.
The scoreboard didn’t move and, to make matters worse, the second half took on a strange pace. City seemed to run out of energy, losing all that fearsome air in the area balcony, giving Brentford the air to recompose their drawing.
However, it only takes one little failure for this City to kill you, and Frank’s team won’t stop it. He received his own medicine in a counterattack where Ajer had the misfortune of sliding into the race against Haaland, who did not spare Flekken (71′). And the Etihad scored minutes later for the Norwegian’s second, which missed the scoreboard due to assistant Walker’s previous offside.
Guardiola decided not to use Kevin de Bruyne even before the victory. Also that his team applied the handbrake, attacking patiently, managing the time, even not giving up the second, which Flekken avoided with a good action on Foden. In the end he didn’t come, but neither did City, who threatened Liverpool’s throne.
match lineup
31
2
25
twenty
5
3
47
16
9
19
52
1
30
12
16
twenty
13
fifteen
27
Eleven
17
6
Etihad Stadium
Mark Flecken1
95′
81′
Mads Roerslev30
88′
Sergio Reguilon12
77′
Ben Mee16
46′
46′
Kristoffer Ajertwenty
Zanka13
Frank Onyekafifteen
88′
Vitaly Janelt27
76′
70′
Yoane WissaEleven
59′
67′
88′
Ivan Toney17
67′
60′
Christian Norgaard6
Replacements
Thomas Strakoshatwenty-one
Nathan Collins22
Mathias Jensen8
76′
Mikkel Damsgaard24
88′
88′
Shandon Baptiste26
Yehor Yarmoliuk33
Neal Maupay7
67′
Saman Ghoddos14
88′
60′
Keane Lewis-Potter23
77′
coach
Pep Guardiola
Thomas Frank
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
