Manchester City chase Pep Guardiola’s 250th Premier League win as they visit Brentford.
Check out team news, lineups, stats, and predictions for this exciting clash.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to the Gtech Community Stadium this Sunday to face Brentford in what could be a milestone match for the reigning champions. Guardiola stands on the brink of achieving his 250th Premier League win — a record he could reach faster than any manager in history.
City come into this fixture unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions. Their confidence was boosted by a 5-1 thrashing of Burnley, followed by a 2-2 draw with Monaco in the Champions League. Despite that late setback in France, the Citizens look sharp and motivated, especially with Erling Haaland rediscovering his best form.
Haaland, who already has 17 goals this season for club and country, will be City’s main weapon once again. Alongside Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho, City’s attack looks more dangerous than ever. The Norwegian striker will be eager to end his goal drought at the Gtech Community Stadium after failing to score in two previous visits.
However, Pep Guardiola has injury concerns. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki remain sidelined, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Aït-Nouri are still recovering. Rodri is expected to start after being carefully managed midweek, and Matheus Nunes could feature in defense again.
Brentford, on the other hand, are enjoying a strong start to the season under Keith Andrews. The Bees impressed last weekend with a commanding 3-1 win over Manchester United, thanks to Igor Thiago’s brace and Mathias Jensen’s strike. Thiago’s story has inspired many — from bricklaying as a teenager to becoming one of Europe’s most clinical finishers this season. His five goals in seven games make him one of the top-performing strikers across Europe, behind only Harry Kane in conversion rate.
Brentford’s home form has been excellent too. They are unbeaten at the Gtech Community Stadium this season and have scored at least two goals in five of their last six home matches. The Bees will welcome back Reiss Nelson and Fábio Carvalho, adding more creativity to an already confident squad.
For City, maintaining defensive stability will be crucial. Conceding late goals has been a recurring issue — they’ve now dropped points three times this season due to last-minute strikes. Guardiola knows his side must stay focused until the final whistle, especially against a Brentford team that never gives up.
City have won three of their last five meetings with Brentford, while the Bees famously defeated them in 2023. With both teams in good form, Sunday’s clash promises goals and drama.
Prediction? Brentford will fight hard, but City’s quality and depth should see them through. Expect a competitive match ending 3-1 in City’s favor, with Haaland and Foden likely on the scoresheet.