Brighton 1-1 Manchester City: What Did We Learn As Brighton Officially Punch Their Europa League Ticket At The Amex?

In what was a real party atmosphere from the Amex on Tuesday night, Manchester City extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches on the bounce as they played out a 1-1 draw against Brighton.

However, while England international Phil Foden might have opened the scoring on the 25th minute, it was Brighton who mounted a stunning comeback as Roberto De Zerbi’s side officially booked a maiden Europa League ticket.

With 19-year-old Julio Enciso producing a stunning 30-yard equaliser just seven minutes before the half-time break, the Seagulls will feel that they had done enough to leave the south coast with maximum points.

Two sides who certainly hold a real reputation for their free-flowing philosophy, chances came at both ends of the pitch as both Erling Haaland and Kaoru Mitoma had respective goals ruled out on either side of the half-time interval.

With Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking squad now extending their unbeaten run to 25 matches on the bounce, City are just days away from becoming the first English club in over two decades to be crowned treble champions.

In what was a thrilling affair from the Amex on Tuesday night, what did we learn on a night when Brighton officially punched a maiden European ticket?

History awaits Guardiola’s superstars

Wrapping up a fifth Premier League crown in the past six seasons as they claimed a 1-0 win against Chelsea last weekend, it is no secret that Manchester City are on the verge of making major history over the coming weeks.

Punching just their second-ever Champions League final ticket earlier in the month as they claimed a famous 5-1 aggregate romp against Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, the ex-Barcelona boss has a stunning treble-winning campaign at the top of his agenda.

Now unbeaten in each of their last 25 straight appearances across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham on February 5th – Guardiola’s side have only continued on a remarkable purple patch over the past few months.

Although the Sky Blues might have watched their 12-match Premier League winning run come to an abrupt end on the south coast here, City are potentially days away from becoming the first English club since Manchester United in 1999 to be crowned treble-champions.

Likewise, with an FA Cup final showdown against their bitter local neighbours penciled in for June 3rd at Wembley, Guardiola’s side are simply looking to keep up their record-breaking momentum.

Brighton officially punch a famous Europa League ticket

While Manchester City might have extended on their remarkable 25-match unbeaten run on Tuesday night, it should be a high-flying Brighton who deserve all of the plaudits here.

Although the Seagulls might have officially punched at least some form of European ticket thanks to their 3-1 win against Southampton last weekend, De Zerbi had made it abundantly clear that he was calling on his squad to go one step further.

Putting in yet another stunning display on the south coast and with many feeling that the Seagulls deserved to leave with maximum points, Brighton’s 1-1 draw was enough to clinch a famous Europa League spot.

Although many around the Amex might have been disappointed after Graham Potter made the move to Chelsea back in September, Brighton have only gone from strength to strength since they welcomed De Zerbi to the south coast.

Riding what has been a history-making wave of momentum on either side of the World Cup’s winter break, Tuesday’s hosts have certainly cemented their spot as one of Europe’s surprise packages this season.

Concerns over Stones & Foden

Although Manchester City might have extended on their record-breaking flurry thanks to Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at the Amex, there will be plenty of concerns over both Foden and John Stones’ second-half withdrawals.

Although Foden might have opened the scoring here and been one of only four outfield players to remain in Guardiola’s starting XI from Sunday’s 1-0 win against Chelsea, the 22-year-old was replaced just five minutes into the second-half.

Likewise, along with Guardiola stating after Tuesday’s stalemate that City’s homegrown superstar had picked up a “first-half knock”, Stones was also replaced in the final few minutes after reverting back to his normal position at centre-back.

While Guardiola might have confessed that Stones’ late withdrawal was simply a “precaution” after the 28-year-old reported some tightness, City are desperate to avoid any major injury issues ahead of their date with Destiny.

Traveling to the south coast on Tuesday night without the likes of Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Jack Grealish, City will be desperate to get some positive news regarding their two English stars.

Match Report

Brighton: Steele, Gross, Van Hecke, Colwill, Estupinan, Gilmour, Caicedo, Buonanotte, Enciso, Mitoma, Welbeck

Subs: Mac Allister, Undan, Ferguson, Veltman

Manchester City: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Rodri, Lewis, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, Haaland, Mahrez

Subs: Phillips, Alvarez, Gomez, Palmer

Goals: Brighton: Enciso (38’) – Manchester City: Foden (25’)

Yellow Cards: Brighton: Van Hecke, Veltman – Manchester City: Silva

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Simon Hooper