Maresca calls for a response after 'strange' Brighton defeat

Manchester City's 1-0 home defeat to Brighton, their second consecutive league loss, left manager Enzo Maresca disappointed.

Yasin Ayari's 11th-minute goal decided the contest at the Etihad Stadium. Having been knocked out of the League Cup by City in midweek, Brighton gained their revenge with this result.

Manchester City created big chances to equalise but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Iliman Ndiaye headed wide from close range, while Nico O'Reilly, who came into the action late on, also saw his header go just past the post.

The result means Manchester City failed to score at home in the Premier League for the first time in 23 matches. The Sky Blues last drew a blank in August 2025, in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. With 21 shots, City recorded their highest expected goals (xG) figure of the season (1.92), and the Italian coach left the pitch with mixed feelings.

Speaking after the match, Maresca said: "It was a bit of a strange game. We had the same feeling as we did away at Aston Villa. We put in a performance that deserved more, but we have to keep going and focus on winning. We created a lot of attacking pressure. Sometimes you need to be more clinical, but the fact that we are creating chances is valuable. Honestly, we did everything to win. Sometimes you struggle to score; the important thing was being able to create those chances. The team's attitude and fight were good, I have nothing negative to say about that. The players fought until the end, and hopefully luck will be on our side next time."

For Brighton, the dream season continues. With this win, the visitors moved to within just two points of the top.

Fabian Hürzeler's side have won five of their last six league matches, keeping a clean sheet in all five of those victories.

Brighton head coach Hürzeler said: "I'm very happy for everyone involved. It was a win that everyone contributed to. We were unlucky in midweek and today we had a bit of luck on our side, but you also have to deserve luck; the whole team worked tremendously. It was a game in which everyone was out there with the mindset of 'I have to defend'. Of course we would have liked to have more of the ball, but when you come here you know you have to defend your box very well and suffer. At the end of the day, the whole team came together with a defensive mentality."