Brighton’s Europa League dream comes true with Manchester City stalemate
Brighton ended City’s impressive 12-game winning streak with a historic 1-1 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City.
The result ensured Brighton’s qualification for the Europa League the following season, marking their first appearance in European competition. Phil Foden gave City an early lead, but Brighton grabbed a point thanks to Julio Anceso’s superb long-range strike. The draw cemented Brighton’s sixth position in the league, capping off a fantastic season for the club.
Despite the draw, City extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 25 matches and maintain an eight-point lead at the top of the table with a game remaining. City manager Pep Guardiola praised Brighton boss Roberto Di Zerbi ahead of the match, acknowledging his significant influence as a manager.
Guardiola showed respect by fielding a strong line-up, including Erling Haaland, who had several chances to score but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Brighton started slowly but gradually asserted their presence and caused problems for the champions. They hit the bar with Danny Welbeck’s free-kick and Facundo Buonanotte wasted a good chance. Kaoru Mitoma also did not allow a goal for handball. However, Enciso’s superb goal was not to be denied as he collected a pass from Levi Colwell and unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner. Welbeck had another goal ruled out for offside in the first half to deny Brighton a third goal.
Despite the fast pace of the game, there were few scoring opportunities in the second half. Holland thought he had scored his 53rd goal of the season, but a VAR review ruled it out for a foul.
Tempers flared briefly on the touchline, resulting in a yellow card for Guardiola. City also had minor injury concerns as John Stones and Bernardo Silva were substituted due to limited mobility, raising some concerns ahead of the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
After the final whistle, Guardiola and De Zerbe shared a warm embrace, showing mutual admiration for each other.
The draw allowed Brighton to secure their place in the Europa League, a great achievement for the club. Brighton’s Danny Welbeck expressed his delight and praised the club’s progress, emphasizing the hard work of everyone involved. It has been an extraordinary season for both teams, with City winning another Premier League title and Brighton making history.
City’s unbeaten run since February highlights their dominance, while Brighton can now eagerly anticipate their first European adventure.