In a key match of the 21st round of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Manchester City took the lead in the first half thanks to a penalty goal by Haaland, but were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton in the second half.

Two minutes into the match, Brighton launched an attack. Yassin Ayari chipped the ball into the penalty area, where Pascal Gross headed it towards goal, but the shot was saved by Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma. Gross then followed up with a shot from the ground, but Donnarumma caught the ball. In the 7th minute, Kadiolou received the ball and entered the penalty area, but his shot was blocked by Donnarumma.

In the 14th minute, Manchester City's corner kick was cleared, and Haaland attempted a shot but failed to connect with the ball. Bernardo Silva then took a shot, but it was intercepted by Brighton goalkeeper Fabrizio. In the 21st minute, Doku received a cross from his teammate and entered the penalty area, but his low shot went wide.

In the 25th minute, Aké delivered a cross from the left wing, and Haaland headed the ball but failed to create a threat. In the 26th minute, Brighton attempted a counter-attack, with Yassin Ayari receiving the ball and passing it across, but the ball was cleared by Manchester City defender Husanov.

In the 37th minute, Doku was brought down by Diego Gomez as he dribbled into the penalty area. After VAR intervention, the referee awarded Manchester City a penalty. Haaland then converted the penalty, giving Manchester City a 1-0 lead.

In the first half stoppage time, Aké received a through ball from Doku and then passed it back in a triangular shape. Reindes received the pass and took a shot, but it was blocked by an opposing player. Subsequently, Nico González took a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went wide.

At the start of the second half, Brighton made a mistake in organizing an attack, and Bernardo Silva regained possession and took a shot, but the ball hit the post. In the 53rd minute, Brighton defender Van Heck was shown a yellow card by the referee for a foul. In the 60th minute, Yassin Ayari dribbled past the defense and passed the ball across the box, where Kaoru Mitoma broke through to the edge of the penalty area and fired a long-range shot into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 for Brighton.

In the 70th minute, Kaoru Mitoma crossed the ball into the box, and Diego Gomez's low shot from close range was saved by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In the 75th minute, Manchester City launched a counter-attack from a corner kick, and Erling Haaland rose to head the ball towards goal, but it was cleared by Kadiolou.

In the 80th minute, Rajin Serki intercepted the ball in the penalty area and passed it across to Haaland, whose curling shot was immediately saved by Brighton goalkeeper Fabrizio. In the 85th minute, Doku passed the ball back from the penalty area to Rajin Serki, who attempted a shot, but the ball went over the goal.

In the second half stoppage time, Haaland received a cross from his teammate in the penalty area and took a shot, but unfortunately it was cleared by the opposing player.

Manchester City were ultimately held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton. After two wins and three draws in their last five matches, Manchester City currently sit second in the league table with 43 points.