Manchester City 2 Brentford 2: Man City player ratings as City are stung late by the Bees

Match Summary

Manchester City 2 (Phil Foden 65′, 78′)
Brentford 2 (Yoanne Wissa 81′, Christian Norgaard 92′)

Manchester City let a two-goal lead slip in dramatic fashion as Brentford staged a late comeback at the GTech Community Stadium. Despite Phil Foden’s heroics, Pep Guardiola’s men lacked the composure to see the game out, leaving fans and pundits questioning their late-game focus—and the depth in midfield.

First Half

The match started with a heartfelt tribute to City legend Tony Book, and both teams came out firing. Brentford threatened early through Yoanne Wissa, while City’s Josko Gvardiol had the first real shot on target.

Stefan Ortega was called into action in the 15th minute to deny Bryan Mbeumo, showcasing Brentford’s counterattacking menace. City gradually grew into the game, with Mateo Kovacic and Savinho coming close, but it remained goalless at halftime.

Second Half

The second half began with a flurry of chances. Brentford’s Nathan Collins nearly opened the scoring, while Savinho struck the post shortly after. Erling Haaland had a golden opportunity but failed to capitalize, heading straight at the keeper.

Finally, in the 65th minute, Kevin De Bruyne delivered a sensational cross, and Phil Foden calmly slotted it home to give City the lead. Foden doubled his tally 13 minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball to seemingly put the game to bed.

But Brentford had other ideas. Wissa pulled one back in the 81st minute after City’s defense fell asleep, and in stoppage time, Christian Norgaard’s towering header completed the Bees’ stunning comeback.

Player Ratings

Stefan Ortega (6.5): Made key saves but seemed vulnerable under Brentford’s late pressure.

Matheus Nunes (7): Decent performance at right-back, showing glimpses of quality.

Manuel Akanji (5.5): Struggled as the game progressed and looked fatigued.

Nathan Ake (8): A defensive rock, saving City with two crucial goal-line clearances.

Josko Gvardiol (7.5): A solid outing from the Croatian, combining defensive assurance with composure on the ball.

Mateo Kovacic (6.5): Decent first half but faded in the second, leading to his substitution.

Kevin De Bruyne (8): Looked like his old self, orchestrating City’s attack and providing a sublime assist.

Bernardo Silva (5.5): Energetic but lacked sharpness in the latter stages.

Savinho (7): Unlucky not to score, showing flashes of brilliance despite his missed chances.

Phil Foden (9): The standout performer, scoring twice and running the show for City in attack.

Erling Haaland (6.5): Worked hard but couldn’t find his usual scoring touch.

Substitutes

Ilkay Gundogan (4): Offered little after replacing Kovacic.

James McAtee (N/A): Came on too late to make an impact.

Key Takeaways

1. Phil Foden’s Revival: After a few quiet weeks, Foden reminded everyone of his talent with a clinical display.

2. Defensive Lapses: City’s late-game defending continues to raise concerns, with sloppy marking costing them dearly.

3. Midfield Woes: The absence of Rodri and a true defensive midfielder was glaring in the final stages. Reinforcements are needed.

4. Brentford’s Resilience: Thomas Frank’s side showed why they’re one of the toughest teams to beat in the league.

What’s Next?

City will need to regroup and address their defensive issues as the January transfer window looms.

Meanwhile, Brentford can take pride in their fightback, proving they can mix it with the best.

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