ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — Erling Haaland’s 17th Premier League goal of the season gave Manchester City a nervy 1-0 win over Brentford to close the champions within a point of leaders Liverpool.
City needed a late Rodri goal to salvage a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the weekend and, despite peppering Mark Flekken’s goal towards the end of the first half, this was once again a home match where Pep Guardiola’s side lacked their usual fluency.
Tension was mounting, with clear chances at a premium, by the time Haaland galloped after Julian Alvarez’s pass and Kristoffer Ajer lost his footing. The Norway superstar held his nerve to slot past Mark Flekken into the bottom corner.
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He doesn't miss those! ⚽️
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 20, 2024
Erling Haaland fires Man City in front after a costly slip puts him through on goal! pic.twitter.com/znIqDh9G6P
Man City vs Brentford final score
| Fulltime | Goalscorers | |
| Man City | 1 | Haaland (71') |
| Brentford | 0 |
Lineups:
Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): 31. Ederson (GK) — 2. Kyle Walker, 3. Ruben Dias, 5. John Stones, 25. Manuel Akanji — 16. Rodri — 47. Phil Foden, 19. Julian Alvarez (8. Mateo Kovacic), 20. Bernardo Silva, 52. Oscar Bobb (11. Jeremy Doku) — 9. Erling Haaland.
Brentford (3-5-2 right to left): 1. Mark Flekken (GK) — 13. Mathias Jorgensen, 20. Kristoffer Ayer, 16. Ben Mee — 30. Mads Roerslev (14. Saman Ghoddos), 15. Frank Onyeka (24. Mikkel Damsgaard), 6. Christian Norgaard, 27. Vitaly Janelt (8. Mathias Jensen), 12. Sergio Regulion (23. Keane Lewis-Potter) — 11. Yoane Wissa (7. Neal Maupay), 17. Ivan Toney.
MORE: Why Julian Alvarez has started every Man City Premier League game
The visitors, who lost 4-1 at home to leaders Liverpool, had an early chance to take the lead when recalled midfielder Frank Onyeka surged clear of City’s high line, only to finish tamely under pressure from Kyle Walker and give Ederson a more routine save than he might have expected.
City began to work through the gears, with Alvarez firing over before whipping wide from the edge of the area before the half-hour.
Bernardo Silva passed up a glorious 34th-minute opportunity, heading wide from close range after Walker nodded Rodri’s chipped pass back across goal.
Guardiola handed a full Premier League debut to Oscar Bobb and the Norway winger almost fashioned a wonderful opener, with a cleverly disguised first touch opening up room to shoot and forcing Ben Mee — a City academy graduate of a different generation — to clear off the line.
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Magnificent defending from Ben Mee to deny Oscar Bobb a goal! ❌
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 20, 2024
📺 @USANetwork | #MCIBRE pic.twitter.com/gA3fSevQi7
A mistake from Phil Foden allowed Brentford a dangerous counter-attack early in the second half and the England star had another moment to forget in the 51st minute, misreading a fizzed Walker cross 10 yards from goal.
An error-strewn, nervy period followed for the hosts, in and out of possession and the Etihad crowd sought to rouse their team.
If anything, City’s display somehow became more frantic after Haaland put his personal nightmare against Chelsea behind him and they could have done without Walker being offside when he appeared to have set the No. 9 up for a game-sealing second goal.
In stoppage time, Foden tried to add to his hat-trick in the reverse fixture but was unable to round Flekken, who then went upfield for a 96th-minute corner to ensure Mancunian anxiety remained until the last.
Man City get the job done at Etihad Stadium ✅ #MCIBRE pic.twitter.com/hxwUnS9kSU
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 20, 2024
Haaland drags Man City to three precious points
Three days ago on this ground, Haaland had nine attempts on goal that included one utterly howling miss and two other very bad ones. There’s an acceptance that City have sacrificed some of the frictionless brilliance of their false-nine years to incorporate a master goalscorer. Last season it yielded a treble but it’s imperative that Haaland holds up his end of the bargain.
After his brace to put a similarly tense encounter against Everton to bed, Haaland resided on the margins of the 3-1 Champions League win against FC Copenhagen before his Chelsea ordeal. He fed off scraps for the most part against Brentford and had not enjoyed a clear chance until Ajer erred. But when his countryman fell to the turf, there was little to no doubt about the outcome. It was another moment to serve as a reminder that whatever City lost when they signed Haaland, they gained a whole lot more.
🥶🥶🥶
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 20, 2024
🩵 1-0 🐝 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/HkCD5OmKd7
Guardiola puts himself through Premier League title theatrics
Shortly after Manchester City’s supporters called for the introduction of Kevin De Bruyne, Guardiola asked them to calm down. To say the least, this was a bit rich. Never a shrinking violet on the touchline, the Catalan turned the histrionics up a notch as Brentford put him through the emotional wringer.
Highlights included mounting irritation at City’s wide players not making first-time crosses — a reasonable enough course of action against a packed defence considering their manager generally cherishes retaining possession. During the second half, Guardiola spotted a ball boy still seated as the ball came bouncing towards them. The City boss retrieved it, chucked it to Manuel Akanji and glared at the youngster.
After a prolonged period of instruction, he watched Silva boom a free-kick to no one and out for a throw. When the Portugal midfielder chipped an aimless pass into the Brentford half shortly after Haaland’s opener, Guardiola contorted himself like a devastated teacher who’s just seen his favourite pupil smoking behind the bike sheds.
As Bees goalkeeper Flekken went up for a 96th-minute corner, he was folded up on his haunches. At fulltime, he gave opposite number Thomas Frank a long, lingering embrace. There are another three months of this to go.
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Probably not what Bernardo Silva had in mind on this free kick. 😅 pic.twitter.com/Xd2m37g4QV
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 20, 2024
Man City vs Brentford kick off time
This Premier League clash takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, UK and kicks off on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Tue, Feb. 20 | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Tue, Feb. 20 | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| UK | Tue, Feb. 20 | 7:30 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Wed, Feb. 21 | 6:30 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Wed, Feb. 21 | 1:00 a.m. IST |
Man City vs Brentford lineups, team news
Guardiola has confirmed Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish remain sidelined for this game with Bernardo Silva back in the starting line-up after coming off the bench in their against Chelsea at the weekend.
Oscar Bobb was given a maiden Premier League start as John Stones slotted back into the defence.
Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): 31. Ederson (GK) — 2. Kyle Walker, 3. Ruben Dias, 5. John Stones, 25. Manuel Akanji — 16. Rodri — 47. Phil Foden, 19. Julian Alvarez, 20. Bernardo Silva, 52. Oscar Bobb — 9. Erling Haaland.
Brentford's injury picture remains unchanged from their 4-1 Premier League loss at home to Liverpool last weekend although Mathias Jorgensen, Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa were handed starts as Thoams Frank shuffled his pack
Brentford (3-5-2 right to left): 1. Mark Flekken (GK) — 13. Mathias Jorgensen, 20. Kristoffer Ayer, 16. Ben Mee — 30. Mads Roerslev, 15. Frank Onyeka, 6. Christian Norgaard, 27. Vitaly Janelt, 12. Sergio Regulion — 11. Yoane Wissa, 17. Ivan Toney.
Man City vs Brentford live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | NBC USA Network, Universo | Fubo, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Sports App |
| Canada | — | |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | JioTV, Hotstar |
USA: This game is available on the USA Network with streaming options on Fubo. Telemundo and Universo provide Spanish language options.
Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live-streaming exclusively via Fubo.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on-demand on Optus Sport.
UK: This game is not available for live broadcast in the UK with talkSPORT providing live radio commentary.
