Manchester City’s 2-0 Advantage Evaporates In Dramatic Brentford Draw

Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table was cut to just three points after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The visitors had taken a shock lead through Yoane Wissa in the first half, before goals from Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez put City back in front.

However, Brentford refused to lie down and leveled through Yoane Wissa once more with just 10 minutes remaining. The result means that Arsenal can now move to the top of the table if they beat Everton on Sunday.

Match Summary

Manchester City started the game brightly and took the lead through Phil Foden in the 16th minute. The England international finished well after being found by a superb Kevin De Bruyne pass.

Brentford responded well to going behind and drew level through Yoane Wissa in the 30th minute. The Congolese forward did well to control a long ball over the top before firing past Ederson.

City regained the lead shortly after the break through Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian winger cut inside from the right and curled a shot into the top corner.

Brentford continued to battle hard and were rewarded for their efforts with an equalizer from Yoane Wissa in the 78th minute. The forward bundled the ball home from close range after a scramble in the City penalty area.

Analysis

The draw was a blow to Manchester City’s hopes of winning the Premier League title. They now trail Arsenal by three points with just six games remaining.

City dominated possession but were wasteful in front of goal. They had 28 shots but only nine of them were on target. Brentford, on the other hand, were clinical with their chances, taking both of their shots on target.

The result also highlighted the growing threat posed by Brentford. The Bees have now taken points off Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Pep Guardiola’s Reaction

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was disappointed with the result but praised Brentford for their performance.

“We played really well in the first half and created a lot of chances,” Guardiola said. “But we didn’t take them and Brentford punished us. They are a good team and they made it difficult for us.”

Guardiola also admitted that Manchester City’s title hopes have been dented by the draw.

“It’s a difficult blow for us,” Guardiola said. “But we have to keep going. There are still six games to play and we need to win as many as we can.”

Thomas Frank’s Reaction

Brentford manager Thomas Frank was delighted with his team’s performance.

“It was a great performance from the boys,” Frank said. “We worked hard and created some good chances. We deserved a point.”

Frank also praised Yoane Wissa for his goalscoring performance.

“Yoane is a great player,” Frank said. “He’s a handful for any defense. He’s always a threat and he showed that today.”

Conclusion

Manchester City’s draw with Brentford was a major shock. The Bees played with great determination and were rewarded with a point. The result has blown the title race wide open and Arsenal will now be favorites to lift the trophy.

However, Manchester City still have a chance to win the title. They need to win their remaining six games and hope that Arsenal drop points.