According to a report by BBC Sports on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Brighton secured an impressive victory over Manchester City to claim quick revenge for their midweek Carabao Cup disappointment and condemn Enzo Maresca’s side to consecutive Premier League defeats.

Fabian Hurzeler’s team had twice taken the lead against City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday before eventually losing on penalties. However, they returned to face their opponents in the league on Saturday and held on to a narrow but valuable win.

The result moved Brighton to within two points of third-placed Manchester City, further strengthening their impressive start to the season. The decisive moment came just 11 minutes into the match, when Yasin Ayari capitalised on a costly mistake from City right-back Matheus Nunes.

Nunes attempted to clear the ball but failed to make proper contact, allowing it to fall invitingly for Ayari, who made no mistake from close range to give Brighton the lead. City had an opportunity to respond 10 minutes later when Iliman Ndiaye rose to meet Elliot Anderson’s cross.

However, the Senegal international directed his header narrowly wide of the post. Ndiaye remained City's brightest attacking threat and soon tested Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with a powerful effort at the near post, forcing the goalkeeper to make a save.

Manchester City continued searching for an equaliser after the break, with Ndiaye again coming close to restoring parity. The former Everton forward found space to run clear before unleashing a powerful strike, but Verbruggen produced an outstanding save to tip the ball onto the crossbar and preserve Brighton’s advantage.

The Brighton goalkeeper continued to frustrate City's attackers, making another excellent stop to deny Nunes. Erling Haaland also struggled to make an impact, with the City striker receiving little meaningful service. One opportunity came when he connected with a header, but his effort lacked power and was comfortably dealt with by Verbruggen.

Brighton, meanwhile, had chances to extend their lead and make the result more comfortable. Maxim de Cuyper wasted a promising opportunity when he blazed over from just 10 yards out. He later forced City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a sharp save with a header.

Those missed chances could have proved costly, particularly with City pushing for an equaliser in the closing stages. However, Brighton remained disciplined and determined to protect their advantage. Despite the pressure, Hurzeler’s side held firm to secure all three points and complete an impressive response to their midweek cup disappointment.