Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Brighton & Hove Albion prepare to host Manchester City on November 9, 2024, fans are set for a high-intensity matchup at the Amex Stadium.

Head-to-Head

Historically, this fixture has been one-sided in favor of Manchester City:

• Total Matches: 16
• Brighton Wins: 1
• Manchester City Wins: 13
• Draws: 2

City’s dominance includes a goal difference of 42-10. Brighton’s last win against City came back in May 2021, but City has taken the majority of points in their last several meetings, including a convincing 4-0 victory earlier in 2024.

Last Five Meetings

1. 26 Apr 2024: Brighton 0-4 Manchester City
2. 21 Oct 2023: Manchester City 2-1 Brighton
3. 25 May 2023: Brighton 1-1 Manchester City
4. 22 Oct 2022: Manchester City 3-1 Brighton
5. 21 Apr 2022: Manchester City 3-0 Brighton

Season So Far

• Brighton: Currently eighth with 16 points from 10 matches (W4, D4, L2). Despite a mixed run, Brighton have shown resilience at home and have only lost two games.
• Manchester City: Second in the table with 23 points from 10 matches (W7, D2, L1). Despite sitting near the top, City enters this game under pressure, having lost their last three matches across all competitions.

Possible Lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion:

• Formation: 4-4-2
• Lineup: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma; Rutter, Welbeck

Manchester City:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Lineup: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Key Players

• Brighton: Danny Welbeck has been in form with six goals this season, while Georginio Rutter has shown creative flair with three assists.
• Manchester City: Erling Haaland remains a constant threat despite recent goal struggles, with 11 league goals. Phil Foden’s vision and dribbling will also be crucial to City’s attack.

10 Key Stats

1. Manchester City has won 13 of their last 16 games against Brighton.
2. City scored an average of 2.6 goals per match against Brighton.
3. Brighton has won just once in the last 15 matches against Manchester City.
4. Danny Welbeck has yet to score against Manchester City in his career.
5. Brighton has conceded 10 points from winning positions this season.
6. City leads the league in second-half goals, scoring 33% of their goals after the 76th minute.
7. Haaland has missed a penalty in midweek and scored just once in his last five league appearances.
8. Brighton scores 35% of their goals between the 31st and 45th minutes.
9. Manchester City has won 12 out of their last 14 away games in the Premier League.
10. The Amex has been a stronghold for Brighton this season, with two wins and three draws.

SWOT Analysis: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Manchester City

Strengths:

1. Strong Attack: Manchester City is averaging 2.6 goals per match in their last 5 games against Brighton, showcasing their high-scoring ability. They average 2.1 goals per game in the Premier League overall.
2. Possession and Control: Manchester City dominates possession, with 65% possession on average. This allows them to control the flow of the game and build sustained attacks.
3. Recent Record vs Brighton: They have an impressive record against Brighton, winning 13 out of the last 16 meetings, with a goal difference of 42-10.
4. Away Strength: Even though Manchester City has suffered some losses recently, they still perform better when playing away, averaging 2.54 goals per match away from home.
5. Top Scorers: Erling Haaland has scored 11 goals, making him a significant attacking threat. Bernardo Silva also leads in assists (3), providing crucial support.

Weaknesses:

1. Recent Losses: Manchester City has lost 3 consecutive away games, raising concerns about their form, especially in away matches.
2. Defensive Vulnerabilities: While their attack is strong, their recent form shows they have conceded more goals than usual. Their defensive line needs to be more consistent, especially during away matches.
3. Recent Injuries or Fatigue: With losses in their last 3 matches, there could be concerns regarding player fatigue or injuries affecting their performance.

Opportunities:

1. Bounce-Back Potential: Their strong historical record against Brighton gives them an opportunity to bounce back from their recent losses, especially with key players like Haaland and Silva.
2. Improved Away Record: With the right adjustments in defense, they have the potential to improve their away performances and regain their dominant form.
3. Squad Depth: With a strong squad depth, City can rotate players and maintain high performance across all competitions.

Threats:

1. Brighton’s Counterattack: Brighton’s high-scoring ability (particularly between minutes 31-45) and their ability to score first at home could pose a threat to Manchester City’s control of the game.
2. Lack of Defensive Focus: If City doesn’t address their defensive lapses, Brighton’s attacking power, particularly from set-pieces or counter-attacks, could exploit these weaknesses.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Strengths:

1. Solid Home Form: Brighton has won 1 out of 5 home matches this season, and they tend to win 83% of their home games when leading 1-0, which indicates strong home resilience.
2. Effective Scoring from Set-Pieces: Brighton scores 35% of their goals in the first half (minutes 31-45), showcasing strong late-half form. Danny Welbeck, their top scorer, has been crucial in this.
3. Possession and Control: Brighton holds 56% possession on average, which is good, although it’s lower than Manchester City’s, they still manage to control the tempo effectively.
4. Consistent Scoring: Brighton has scored in 8 consecutive matches, and they tend to be more effective at home, with an average of 1.67 goals per home match.

Weaknesses:

1. Struggles Against Top Teams: Brighton has a poor record against Manchester City, with only 1 win in the last 16 encounters. This indicates challenges when facing top-tier clubs.
2. Inconsistent Defense: Although Brighton has scored in many games, they have struggled defensively, conceding 42 goals over 16 encounters with Manchester City.
3. Limited Squad Depth: Brighton may struggle with squad depth against elite teams, as they are more dependent on key players like Welbeck and Rutter for goal-scoring.

Opportunities:

1. Leverage Home Advantage: Brighton can capitalize on their solid home form and the fact that they score early or in the first half. They have the potential to capitalize on Manchester City’s recent away struggles.
2. Exploiting Defensive Weaknesses: Given Manchester City’s recent defensive lapses, Brighton could exploit spaces during counter-attacks and set-pieces.
3. Danny Welbeck’s Form: Welbeck’s consistent scoring ability presents a valuable opportunity for Brighton to challenge City’s defense and potentially secure a win or draw.

Threats:

1. Manchester City’s Dominance: Historically, Brighton struggles to secure victories against Manchester City, and City’s superior squad depth and attacking prowess pose a significant challenge.
2. Conceding Early: Brighton’s ability to recover from a 0-1 deficit is poor (only a 20% win rate when down at home), which could be problematic against a team like City that scores early and often.
3. Haaland’s Impact: The presence of Erling Haaland, who has been in excellent form, is a significant threat to Brighton’s defense. If City can exploit Brighton’s defensive weaknesses, Haaland’s clinical finishing will be a major threat.

Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion Tips and Prediction

• Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Brighton
  Given City’s need to bounce back and their overall record against Brighton, expect a close but ultimately decisive win for Pep Guardiola’s side. Brighton will look to make it difficult, but City’s firepower and tactical depth should prevail.
• Betting Tip: Back Manchester City to win with over 2.5 goals in the match.

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