Manchester Metropolis had been held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Brentford on Tuesday evening, forcing the defending Premier League champions to make do with a single level.
Pep Guardiola’s facet travelled to London off the again of a three-game profitable streak, hoping to select up all three factors to seal a spot within the Premier League’s top-four. Nevertheless, the hosts had been immediate to make it recognized that the duty wouldn’t be straightforward.
Brentford squandered early possibilities in entrance of objective however did effectively in containing the guests in assault. Metropolis regarded to interrupt away a couple of occasions however couldn’t deter the defence and had been restricted to solely two pictures on course within the first-half as neither facet might get on the scorecard.
The second-half took an intense flip with good performs from either side. The Bees virtually grabbed a gap objective by way of Yoane Wissa however had been denied by Josko Gvardiol. Within the fast aftermath, Savinho discovered Kevin De Bruyne on the fitting, and the Belgian whipped a cross in the direction of Phil Foden.
The England worldwide leaped to information the ball previous Mark Flekken with an outstretched foot, quickly doubling the lead for his facet with a tap-in after the Brentford goalkeeper floundered at a ball from Savinho’s shot.
That is the place Manchester Metropolis ought to have seen out the sport with a snug lead, however the hosts – who had brought about bother all through – weren’t prepared to surrender. A couple of minutes after conceding a second, Brentford broke with Mads Roerslev’s discovering Wissa contained in the field. The centre-forward wouldn’t miss this time and pulled again a objective.
The guests struggled to construct momentum whereas Brentford relentlessly labored to discover a second. They might be rewarded for his or her continued strain, as Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross from the fitting met Christian Nørgaard, who beat Manuel Akanji within the air and headed the ball simply previous Stefan Ortega to salvage some extent.
Manchester Metropolis had been punished for coasting in the direction of the top, particularly with Thomas Frank’s facet adamant in pursuit of factors. If not for Nathan Ake’s late goal-line clearance, the Sky Blues might have misplaced all three.
With all hopes of competing within the title race disappearing, Manchester Metropolis will now look to make amends after they face Ipswich of their subsequent Premier League fixture. Earlier than that, listed here are 5 Issues We Discovered from a fateful draw in opposition to Brentford in midweek motion!
Manchester Metropolis’s defence poses the identical puzzles
Like Schrödinger’s cat, Manchester Metropolis’s defence exists in a state of uncertainty. Till they face a very formidable opponent, we can not definitively say whether or not they’re really robust or if their current successes have masked underlying weaknesses.
Not like Schorindger’s cat, the decay in defence is obvious from the half-way line. Opponents sense the weakened confidence and nervy construction, that are glorious motivation in opposition to a visibly nervous backline.
Brentford created glorious possibilities however couldn’t make them depend. This uncovered gaps within the defensive position, which had Matheus Nunes at right-back. Bernardo Silva typically dropped deep to assist. Aside from that, it was a typical scene. Josko Gvardiol misplaced his footing a couple of occasions whereas monitoring again however made a vital block contained in the field.
Along with making a game-saving goal-line clearance, Nathan Ake did effectively together with his defensive duties and stepped as much as carry the ball ahead. Manuel Akanji took time to settle however was caught off-guard in the course of the second objective.
The defence is way from woeful, however these exhausted on the again have a tendency to take a seat off in the direction of the top of the match. A collapsing midfield doesn’t assist their case. Thus, except Metropolis plans to herald contemporary legs, extra of its leads will finish with a draw or a loss in opposition to groups keen to take dangers.
Kevin De Bruyne within the highlight
One of many many issues Metropolis has missed this season is Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliance on the pitch. The Belgian’s return from harm added an instantaneous spark to assault, however his efficiency in opposition to Brentford confirmed how useful he’s in boosting possibilities in entrance of the objective.
De Bruyne steadily gained the ball within the midfield to cease harmful counters and regularly discovered his well beyond a Brentford defence with exact by way of balls. At one level, he bailed out the defenders after they grew to become frantic whereas enjoying out from the again and arrange a counterattack in the identical play.
His free-kick and pictures on course had been uncharacteristically inaccurate, stopping his efficiency from being categorised as masterful. But, his prowess at full show was an necessary reminder of his creativity, which the Sky Blues have struggled to develop in his absence.
Phil Foden will get his brace
Phil Foden hasn’t had an amazing season however nonetheless has a couple of essential objectives. The Metropolis star bagged a brace in opposition to Brentford, showcasing his brilliance. And that’s maybe the most important concern with the England Worldwide this season. It’s truthful to say that he has been fully off his recreation.
Foden struggled to make an affect with out the ball. His efficiency would have been massively scrutinised if he hadn’t scored the objectives, finally turning into probably the most vital consider evaluating his recreation in opposition to Brentford. The excellent news is that he appears to be gaining confidence with every recreation and, hopefully, is nearer to discovering his mojo than what seems.
The *virtually* issue
Metropolis has proven vital enchancment in assault over the previous month. Nevertheless, forwards are nonetheless assured of their rapport with one another. There have been a number of moments in opposition to Brentford when the Blues performed free-flowing soccer with persistent build-up and acquainted ease. A part of the reason being that key gamers lack steadiness of their efficiency.
Savinho made glorious runs all through and labored splendidly with Kevin De Bruyne however failed to supply within the closing third. The Brazilian was unfortunate to see his finest likelihood of the sport notably denied by the put up.
Foden, as defined earlier, couldn’t do a lot within the build-up however made his actions depend when it mattered. Erling Haaland additionally noticed his miscalculated makes an attempt at objective finish with saves, however he did effectively to win the ball and create possibilities. That elevated the Norwegian’s efficiency regardless of him not scoring a objective, however was it sufficient? Bernardo Silva ran miles however provided practically nothing within the assault.
Metropolis have grown snug in taking their possibilities in entrance of objective. However with defensive liabilities on the again, these enjoying up-front should scale the variety of possibilities created. Virtually all assaults culminate in a single transfer of drawing the defenders out huge earlier than crossing the ball.
This technique fails to maintain up with a disciplined defence, particularly when there aren’t any sporadic makes an attempt to interrupt from the center. Higher chemistry between the attacking gamers might induce extra braveness to pursue daring strikes contained in the field. That mentioned, they’re doubtlessly being held again by the vulnerability of these proper behind them.
Pep Guardiola’s name on midfield
It’s no secret that the Catalan supervisor loves his midfielders and sometimes is dependent upon them to manage possession. Nevertheless, this has been one of the susceptible facets of Metropolis’s recreation this season, particularly within the defensive midfield function. The Sky Blues are inclined to lose the ball in midfield too typically, leaving a struggling again our prone to counterattacks.
Mateo Kovacic has proven spectacular velocity with the ball transferring ahead. However he has curtailed that previously two video games and might be instructed to carry the ball. He made a handful of important tackles, which, albeit dangerous, stopped Brentford from discovering a rhythm. Ilkay Gundogan changed him, and his lack of tempo performed to the hosts’ benefit.
Though he wasn’t immediately accountable for the objectives, Gundogan’s introduction late within the recreation definitely didn’t assist the trigger. It didn’t occur for the primary time and is more likely to be the case except both participant finds a miraculous kind with out Rodri on this facet.
Nevertheless, that once more begs questions on Guardiola’s alternative of substitutions and whether or not the Sky Blues can genuinely afford to take their foot off the peddle within the recreation’s dying minutes when their complete midfield might be overrun by any facet affected person sufficient to string a couple of passes collectively.