On a thrilling Saturday at the Etihad, Manchester City hosted Brentford in a Premier League clash that saw Erling Haaland edge closer to a century of goals for the club. The Norwegian striker’s brace brought his tally to 99, as City overcame a shaky start to claim a 2-1 victory.
Haaland’s Heroics Help City Survive Early Scare
Manchester City momentarily moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League, but it wasn’t without drama. The match began disastrously for City, conceding within just 23 seconds after a defensive mishap allowed Brentford’s Yoane Wissa to head in from close range. Brentford’s quickfire attack was the result of a perfectly executed build-up right from kick-off, catching City’s defense flat-footed.
The following 20 minutes were tense and error-strewn for City, but Haaland restored calm when he latched onto a long ball from Ederson, capitalizing on Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock’s hesitation. Haaland made no mistake, firing home to level the score and marking his 99th goal for the club. Despite his hunger for a hat-trick—his third in as many games—Haaland would have to settle for a brace this time. With nine goals in his last four outings, it seems only a matter of time before he nets his 100th.
Key Moments from City’s Hard-Fought Win
Rico Lewis Gets a Pre-Match Coaching Clinic
Rico Lewis, often filling in at left-back, started his fifth game of the season against Brentford, shifting from his usual right-back position to give Kyle Walker his first start. With injuries mounting—most notably Nathan Ake’s—Guardiola needed to manage his squad carefully with crucial fixtures on the horizon. Lewis had impressed for England during the international break and did enough to earn Guardiola’s trust in this game, though it was clear his role required fine-tuning.
Before the match, assistant coach Carlos Vicens, who had previously worked with Lewis in the academy, pulled the young full-back aside for some last-minute tactical advice. The pair went over various in-game scenarios before Lewis rejoined the squad for warm-ups. Though Lewis was subbed at half-time, it may have been part of a pre-planned rotation with many games looming.
Haaland’s Body Language Tells a Story
It was an emotional day for Haaland, who had recently suffered the loss of a close family friend. His serious demeanor was noticeable as he emerged from the tunnel. In the early stages, Haaland’s frustration was evident as City fell behind and struggled to find their rhythm.
But when his equalizer came, Haaland’s celebration was subdued—a simple point to the sky, a few high-fives, and then a swift return to the center circle. His restrained reaction sent a clear message to his teammates: there was more work to be done. It was Haaland’s sharp movement and anticipation that baffled Pinnock, who froze under a long Ederson ball, allowing Haaland a clean run on goal to level the score.
In the second half, Haaland’s body language continued to intrigue. While chasing a third consecutive hat-trick, his frustration grew whenever his teammates didn’t deliver the ball quickly enough. Having already broken Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goals in the first four Premier League games of a season (nine), Haaland was eyeing another historic achievement: a third hat-trick in as many games. Despite falling short, few would bet against him reaching the milestone soon.
Brentford’s Warning Ignored
Brentford’s early goal wasn’t entirely unexpected for those paying attention. During warm-ups, Brentford practiced a rare drill: their starting XI attacking wide free-kicks while their substitutes defended. This was a clear indication of their plan to exploit City’s vulnerability in the air, and they wasted no time executing it in the game itself.
Just 23 seconds after kick-off, a ball was sent to the back post, Keane Lewis-Potter headed it into the danger zone, John Stones failed to clear, and Wissa made no mistake nodding it into the empty net. City had been given a warning, but still allowed Brentford to cause havoc from set-pieces early on. It was another slow start for City—the third time in four games they’ve allowed the opposition to seize the initiative.
Squad Rotation and Missing Faces
Guardiola’s lineup hinted at a rotation plan ahead of a congested fixture list, and his substitutions confirmed it. Rodri and Josko Gvardiol were brought on at halftime to bolster the team, while regular starters like Mateo Kovacic and Lewis were given much-needed rest after a busy start to the season.
Interestingly, Guardiola waited until the 85th minute to make more changes, introducing Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva to help close out the game. Despite the obvious need for squad rotation, key players like Phil Foden and James McAtee remained glued to the bench, with no sign of Foden even warming up in the second half. Similarly, Matheus Nunes spent much of the game warming up, but only entered in the final seconds of stoppage time.
Whether this lack of playing time is part of a longer-term rotation strategy or a sign that some players weren’t in Guardiola’s plans for the day remains to be seen.
Haaland’s Quest for Records Continues
Though City left the pitch victorious, the real story continues to be Haaland’s relentless pursuit of records. With 99 goals already in the bag, it’s only a matter of time before he notches his 100th for City. As for the elusive third hat-trick in a row, that milestone might have slipped through his grasp for now, but if Haaland’s recent form is anything to go by, more records will undoubtedly fall soon.
