- Manchester City’s last five matches vs Brentford
- Four wins and one draw
- Erling Haaland has played a key role against the Bees.
As Manchester City prepare to host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s men could learn plenty of lessons by breaking down the past five fixtures between both sides.
The Sky Blues’ hopes of becoming Premier League champions are hanging on by a thread, given they drew 3-3 to Everton as the club’s title race is no longer in their hands. As a result, anything but three points against Brentford and City might as well kiss their title hopes goodbye.
The good news for City is Jeremy Doku’s late goal against Everton means they are still in with a chance to win the title.
Pep Guardiola seemed composed after Manchester City faced Everton but the Catalan would have every reason to be seething after witnessing his side’s collapse in the second half.
Ahead of Saturday’s contest, it is worth noting that Manchester City have won four and drawn one out of their last five games against Brentford.
Manchester City 2-0 Brentford
Back in December, Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, thanks to goals from Rayan Cherki and Savinho.
Considering City went on to win the Carabao Cup shows how crucial their victory against the Bees was. On the day, Manchester City were at their dominant best for the most part.
Cherki stole the show in particular, especially when he rifled the ball into the top corner from outside the box to open the scoring for his side.
While Brentford were dangerous on the counter, Abdukodir Khusanov shone at the back in particular while James Trafford made important saves to keep out rasping efforts from Kristoffer Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard.
Brentford 0-1 Manchester City
Erling Haaland’s all-important goal was ultimately what separated both sides in what was a tightly-contested clash at the Gtech Community Stadium. On another day, Keith Andrews’ side could have easily drawn or won the game.
Manchester City were especially under the cosh in the second half, as they struggle to retain possession, were largely bullied physically and defended for their lives.
Gianluigi Donnarumma kept Igor Thiago out with when Josko Gvardiol’s failed attempt at a headed clearance meant the Brazilian was clean through on goal; a moment that typified that it was City’s day and not Brentford’s.
While the visitors defended valiantly for the most part, especially up against Michael Kayode’s javelin-like long throws, their performance was far from satisfactory back in October.
Brentford 2-2 Manchester City
Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Brentford in January last year embodied their struggles last season. Despite being 2-0 up in the 78th minute, courtesy of Phil Foden’s brilliant brace, City eventually capitulated and drew the game in the space of 14 minutes.
Yoane Wissa’s first goal embodied how poor Manchester City were at the back for most of the 2025/2026 campaign. Bernardo Silva failed to track Mats Roerslev inside the box, who headed the ball in Wissa’s path, who was allowed to take a touch before scoring a tap-in as Manuel Akanji was caught sleeping.
Christian Norgaard’s equaliser was yet another appalling piece of defending from Akanji, who lost the header to the midfielder before Stefan Ortega failed to keep out a relatively savable attempt.
Manchester City would have lost the game in the dying embers of the clash had Nathan Ake not headed Bryan Mbeumo’s effort off the line in what was a comedy of errors from Pep Guardiola and Co.
Manchester City 2-1 Brentford
John Stones is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. Out of all the lifelong memories he has made in a City shirt, one the defender would not like to remember is his botched clearance to gift Wissa a goal in the first minute of the Sky Blues’ 2-1 win against Brentford in September 2024.
However, Stones was bailed out by Haaland, who scored a stunning brace to settle the tie in Manchester City’s favour. The first was a phenomenal finish where the Norwegian was on the turn and managed to rifle the ball into the bottom corner with his weaker right foot.
Ederson Moraes set Haaland up for his second goal, with the striker timing his run perfectly to gallop past Ethan Pinnock and dink the ball over the onrushing Mark Flekken. The post and a top-class save from Flekken denied the 25-year-old four goals on the day.
Man City started to isolate Haaland to create a 1v1 with space on either side of the defender for Haaland to exploit.
— Tactx (@Tactx_) September 16, 2024
With Ederson's ability on the ball, he delivered a ball up to Haaland for him to outmuscle Ethan Pinnock and go on to score the second City goal. pic.twitter.com/MaxfY53oqr
City were far from their vintage best but they deserved to clinch the all-important three points, having been superior on the balance of play.
Manchester City 1-0 Brentford
While Haaland once again emerged as Manchester City’s match-winner back in February 2025, Flekken was the best player on the pitch by a distance.
The Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper made a plethora of world-class saves and it seemed like he was destined to pour water over City’s title hopes.
However, in the 71st minute, Manchester City’s patience was rewarded as Kristoff Ajer slipped inside his own half, leaving Haaland one-on-one with Flekken and the Leeds-born marksman buried his chance.
Man City face off with Brentford again this Saturday
City’s next clash against Brentford will get underway at 17:30 BST. After Monday’s result, anything less than a win will be viewed as a failure.
Stay tuned as we continue to provide pre-match coverage of a fixture which could see the Citizens move within two points of Arsenal.
