Pep Guardiola said he had no regrets at not being involved in the Champions League last 16 this season – because Manchester City did not deserve to be there.
But after another frustrating result, failing to secure the win that would have moved them up to fourth, City are in danger of missing out on the competition altogether for the first time in 15 years. Not since they first qualified for European football’s elite club competition in 2011 have City failed to be in the Champions League, but this result has put that proud record in jeopardy.
Guardiola’s faltering side still have some tricky fixtures left to navigate in the race for a Champions League spot, even though fifth place is almost certain to be enough to achieve that target. But with Newcastle and Brighton just a point behind, Aston Villa within three of City and Bournemouth – who Guardiola’s side must face – only four back, competition for the Champions League places is fierce.
The Seagulls arrived at the Etihad Stadium as the Premier League’s in-form side, aiming for five straight top-flight wins for the first time since 1981, and had the ball in the City net after six minutes, Kaoru Mitoma bundling it over the line. But it was ruled out, following a VAR review, for a foul on Stefan Ortega, although the decision to chalk the goal off seemed unduly harsh.
That perceived injustice cut deeper for the visitors four minutes later, when City were awarded a penalty for a foul by Adam Webster on Omar Marmoush, with Erling Haaland converting from the spot. It was Haaland’s 21st Premier League goal of the season and his 29th in all competitions. The Norway striker also became the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements in fewer than 100 games, doing so in 94 appearances and beating the record held by Alan Shearer.
Yet City’s jubilation was short-lived, with Brighton drawing level in the 21 st minute, defender Pervis Estupian leaving Ortega rooted to the spot with a sublime free-kick in off a post, after Nico Gonzalez had fouled Georginio Rutter.
Thereafter City repeatedly relinquished possession cheaply, with misplaced passes, Ortega and Josko Gvardiol among the chief culprits, with the soon-to-be-deposed champions lacking fluency and conviction, which has been a recurring theme in an uncharacteristically turbulent season.
Guardiola’s side had fleeting chances to re-establish their lead, including just after the half-hour mark, when Savinho and Marmoush exchanged passes, the latter unable to get his shot on target under pressure from Jean Paul van Hecke. At the other end, Yankuba Minteh was allowed to run unchallenged into the City penalty area, only to scoop his effort high and wide of the target, in what amounted to a let-off for the home side.
But the hosts were back in front in the 38th minute, Ilkay Gundogan winning the ball off Rutter and finding Marmoush, who took full advantage of Brighton’s players backing off by unleashing an unstoppable strike from 25 yards that left goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen static.
Brighton should have equalised for the second time three minutes from the break, another sloppy pass from Gvardiol seized upon by Joao Pedro, who managed to get himself in a position to shoot, only to drag his effort wide of Ortega’s left-hand post.
But Fabian Hurzeler’s side were level three minutes after the restart, Jack Hinshelwood’s shot – which was going wide – taking a deflection off Abdukodir Khunsanov, leaving Ortega no chance of keeping it out. Brighton should have taken the lead seven minutes later, but Minteh was unable to convert Diego Gomez’s cross.
Gonzalez struck a post with a header, while moments later at the other end, Hinshelwood shot into the side netting, when he should have squared the ball for Mitoma, who was primed to turn it in.
Carlos Baleba was guilty of a worse miss with eight minutes left, ballooning the ball over with the goal at his mercy, following a swift counter-attack, as the game ended honours even.
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