Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s dominance in English football is under serious threat as their battle for a top-four finish took another hit with a 2-2 draw against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium over the weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side, once considered near-invincible, now find themselves in a desperate fight to avoid an unthinkable outcome—missing out on next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The defending champions started with urgency, determined to bounce back from last weekend’s shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Their talisman, Erling Haaland, put them ahead early, converting a penalty to mark his 100th Premier League goal involvement in record time—84 goals and 16 assists in just 94 games.
However, Brighton, under the guidance of Fabian Hurzeler, were fearless. Pervis Estupiñán stunned the Etihad with a brilliant free-kick, silencing the home crowd.
City responded through Omar Marmoush, who unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to restore their lead before halftime.
Yet, the fragility in Guardiola’s defense was once again exposed. A scrappy Brighton attack in the second half saw Jack Hinshelwood’s mishit shot deflect off Abdukodir Khusanov and into the net, forcing City to share the points.
The result leaves City in fifth place, with 47 points from 28 games. Their usually reliable defense has been their Achilles’ heel this season, conceding 40 league goals—the most ever under Guardiola at this stage of a campaign.
Injuries to key defenders like John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji have only worsened their struggles.
“We’re playing nine finals now. We must be perfect. I’m confident, but the pressure is growing,” Guardiola said post-match.
With tough fixtures against Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth still to come, City’s Champions League fate hangs in the balance.
Guardiola has never failed to qualify for the competition in his managerial career, but after back-to-back disappointing results, his streak is under serious threat.
For a club that dominated Europe last season, the prospect of missing out entirely on next season’s Champions League would be a nightmare.
Manchester City fans, once accustomed to title races, are now facing an unfamiliar reality: a tense battle just to stay in the elite.
