Haaland strikes early as Guardiola reaches 250: City edge Brentford in a ferocious, two‑phase contest
Manchester City banked a hard‑earned 1-0 win at Brentford thanks to Erling Haaland’s ninth‑minute finish, a result that delivered Pep Guardiola his 250th Premier League victory at record speed. City’s supremacy before the interval contrasted sharply with a combative, aerially charged second half that tested their nerve and organization.
Brentford, unbeaten at home until this, were blanked before half-time and then surged after the restart, turning the game into a scrap of long throws, set‑pieces and rushing counters. City, who have lately flirted with late mishaps, held their line this time, clinging to Haaland’s strike and a clean sheet as the champions moved up to fifth and within three points of leaders Arsenal.
A ruthless start, then a narrowing margin
City’s opener was classic Haaland. Josko Gvardiol arced a ball from the left and the Norwegian bulldozed through Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins before sweeping past Caoimhin Kelleher. It was his ninth league goal of the campaign and extended a scoring run to nine straight games, part of an 18‑goal haul for club and country this season.
The visitors were smooth and relentless in that opening stretch. Tijjani Reijnders’ volley forced a superb save from Kelleher and Phil Foden, teed by the quick feet of Oscar Bobb, repeatedly threatened. Brentford’s first‑half struggle was stark: for the first time in their 159 Premier League matches, they failed to register a touch in City’s penalty area.
Andrews’ adjustments spark a Brentford surge
Keith Andrews set up with a back five that initially prioritized damage limitation, but the second half brought a marked shift. Brentford pressed higher, Michael Kayode drove aggressively down the right and the long throws began to rain in. Haaland even dropped to defend restarts as City were pushed back towards their box.
The game’s golden equaliser chance fell to Igor Thiago when a Gvardiol misjudgment sent him clear, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma to race out and smother. Kayode soon headed wide and the Bees’ direct play kept the contest on a knife‑edge. Tellingly, Brentford restricted City to a single second‑half shot and no attempts on target.
The Rodri subplot: anxiety, then reassurance
City’s control was complicated by an early blow when Rodri pulled up around the 20‑minute mark, clutching his right thigh. Given the midfielder’s carefully managed return after last season’s long layoff, and the fact he missed the Burnley match with knee pain, the sight of him limping off carried obvious jeopardy for City’s rhythm and balance.
The post‑match tone, though, was measured. Rodri indicated he felt a minor hamstring issue and hoped to be ready for the next game. He spent the second half marshalling from the sidelines and celebrated at the finish, while Guardiola noted the need to manage his minutes and expressed hope the setback would not be serious.
Milestones, margins and the wider race
The victory doubled as a landmark for Guardiola, who reached 250 Premier League wins in just 349 matches. City have three wins from their last four league games and, with rivals slipping, remain close enough to the summit to nurture title ambitions. This side, still evolving and short of past star wattage, continues to find ways to bank points.
For Brentford, there was frustration at fine margins but also validation in the second‑half surge. Andrews was denied a statement follow‑up to the win over Manchester United, and a famous double over City from two years ago remains just that: history. The Bees sit 16th with two wins from seven and, for the first time this season, no goal to show for their efforts.
What comes next
After the international break, Brentford head to West Ham on Monday 20 October for a night kick‑off that looks tailor‑made for their newly rediscovered aggression.
City return to the Etihad to face Everton on Saturday 18 October, aiming to marry first‑half fluency with a more ruthless finish to avoid living on the edge late on.