Manchester City aims to return to the first four of the Premier League when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Cityzens will pass fourth place if they were beating the Seagulls, with Chelsea who is not in action until Sunday when they visit Arsenal. With another top four hopes, Newcastle United did not play in the Premier League this weekend, the Pep Guardiola team on the ideal occasion to continue their qualification offer in the Champions League.
The reigning champions underwent a frustrating defeat against the Nottingham forest last weekend and must avoid more slippages by the conclusion of the campaign. Guardiola never failed to qualify for the Champions League as a coach, but such an unexpected fate remains a very real possibility for Spanish this quarter.
The defeat of City this weekend would allow Brighton to jump them in the standings while the side of the South Coast continued their fight for a return to European competition. Four consecutive premier league victories have increased their chances and they enter the confident mood on Saturday.
Here is 90 minutes Confrontation guide.
Man City vs Brighton Record head-to-head (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Man |
Brighton |
|---|---|
|
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man City – 08/03/25 |
Brighton 2-1 Fulham – 08/03/25 |
|
Man City 3-1 Plymouth – 01/03/25 |
Newcastle 1-2 Brighton (AET) – 02/03/25 |
|
Tottenham 0-1 Man City – 02/26/25 |
Brighton 2-1 Bournemouth – 02/25/25 |
|
Man City 0-2 Liverpool – 23/02/25 |
Southampton 0-4 Brighton – 02/22/25 |
|
Real Madrid 3-1 Man City – 19/02/25 |
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea – 02/14/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel / live flow |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Non -televised – Radio comments live and updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, Talksport and BBC Radio Manchester. Updates of the television studio on Sky Sports Premier League |
|
UNITED STATES |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
Fubotv Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Injuries were a frustrating theme of the city’s season and a factor attenuating during a disappointing campaign. Defensive problems are wreaking havoc on Guardiola’s team selections, with Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake all put aside for the long term.
Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long -term absent and the first continues to be cruelly missed by City, Nico Gonzalez to fill the void left by his compatriot.
Guardiola has decisions to be made through his programming as he is looking for an answer to the defeat of last weekend, with Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Omar Marmoush who arrive at the team this Saturday.
Man City predicted the alignment against Brighton (4-1-4-1): Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, dias, gvardiol; Gonzalez; Savinho, Kovacic, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland.
The recent form of Brighton is all the more impressive given the injuries to which they are currently fighting, in particular in the defensive third. The Lewis Dunk skipper is joined by Igor, Ferdi Kadioglu and Joel Veltman on the touch.
Jason Steele and the former midfielder in the city James Milner are both absent for a long time, while Matt O’riley is doubtful to have missed the last two games thanks to a knee injury.
The good news for Brighton is that Tariq Lamptey will return to suspension after being sent to the fifth round of the FA Cup. He should come for Jack Hinshelwood on the right back.
Brighton predicted the alignment against Man City (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; MINTEH, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro.
City can always save a certain pride of a disappointing campaign if they qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup, but none will be simple given their current form. They look uneven in defense and surprisingly without interest in the last third despite a multitude of options.
Brighton is in excellent shape and has beaten Newcastle, Bournemouth and Chelsea (twice) in recent weeks. Having already triumphed over the city in the reverse match of November, they will have few fears head for the Etihad stadium.
The Cityzens are stronger on the floor at home this season, but could find a difficult life against the intensity of the seagulls.
