Brighton vs. Man City: A Battle of Resilience at the Amex

Two Premier League teams reeling from Gameweek Two defeats are set to clash
at the Amex Stadium this Sunday. Brighton & Hove Albion, still searching for
their first league victory of the 2025-26 season, face a formidable test
against a Manchester City side eager to bounce back from a surprising loss.

Both the Seagulls and the Cityzens endured frustrating results last weekend,
setting the stage for a compelling encounter where pride and crucial points
are on the line.

City’s Stumble and Brighton’s Frustration

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City arrive at the Amex following a familiar
defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad. Despite a stellar opening weekend
performance at Molineux, where summer signing Tijjani Reijnders impressed
on debut, the loss to Spurs has left many wondering what to expect from the
champions this term.

Brighton, under Fabian Hürzeler, will feel particularly hard done by. They
let a lead slip against Fulham in their season opener before succumbing to a
2-0 defeat at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend. Despite
dominating possession and creating chances, the Seagulls were punished for
their inefficiency in the final third.

However, Brighton did find their scoring boots mid-week, cruising past
second-tier Oxford United with a resounding 6-0 victory in the Carabao Cup
second round, a result that could inject some much-needed confidence into
the squad.

Match Details

• Location: Falmer, England
• Stadium: Amex Stadium
• Date: Sunday, August 31
• Kick-off Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT
• Referee: Darren England
• VAR: Paul Tierney

Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

The recent history between these two sides suggests a closely contested affair:

• Brighton: 1 win
• Man City: 2 wins
• Draws: 2

Their last encounter, on March 15, 2025, ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw at
the Etihad, hinting at another high-scoring contest.

Current Form (All Competitions)

A look at their recent results across all competitions paints a picture of
mixed fortunes for both teams:

Brighton

• Oxford United 0–6 Brighton – 27/08/25 (Carabao Cup)
• Everton 2–0 Brighton – 24/08/25 (Premier League)
• Brighton 1–1 Fulham – 16/08/25 (Premier League)
• Brighton 2–1 Wolfsburg – 09/08/25 (Friendly)
• Southampton 2–2 Brighton – 02/08/25 (Friendly)

Man City

• Man City 0–2 Tottenham – 23/08/25 (Premier League)
• Wolves 0–4 Man City – 16/08/25 (Premier League)
• Palermo 0–3 Man City – 09/08/25 (Friendly)
• Man City 3–4 Al Hilal (A.E.T) – 01/07/25 (Friendly)
• Juventus 2–5 Man City – 26/06/25 (Friendly)

Where to Watch

Fans around the world can catch the action live:

• United States: Peacock
• United Kingdom: Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports
  Main Event, Sky Ultra HD
• Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Amazon Prime Video,
  Fubo Sports Network 2 Canada
• Mexico: Max Mexico, Amazon Prime Video

For a comprehensive list of Premier League broadcasters worldwide,
click here.

Brighton Team News and Predicted Lineup

Fabian Hürzeler is expected to revert to a similar starting XI to the one
that faced Everton, despite the defeat. While Georginio Rutter is nearing a
return from injury, Sunday’s game may come too soon for the former Leeds
United forward. Solly March remains sidelined, and Julio Enciso is
reportedly on his way out of the club. Adam Webster is a long-term absentee.

Brighton predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1):
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Baleba, Hinshelwood;
Minteh, Gómez, Mitoma; Welbeck

Man City Team News and Predicted Lineup

Guardiola has confirmed that Rayan Aït-Nouri, who was forced off against
Spurs, will be fit to feature and could retain his spot at left-back, with
Joško Gvardiol a doubt. Rodri, the Ballon d’Or holder, is expected to make
his first start after the international break, having featured off the bench
last time out. Phil Foden is also back to full fitness and could make his
first start of the season. Savinho and Mateo Kovačić remain out, and Rayan
Cherki is reportedly injured.

Man City predicted lineup vs. Brighton (4-2-3-1):
Trafford; Lewis, Dias, Stones, Aït-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders; Foden, Silva,
Doku; Haaland

Score Prediction

Last season’s 2-1 defeat at the Amex marked the beginning of a challenging
period for Manchester City. However, Guardiola returns with new talent and a
burning desire to rectify their recent league form. While Brighton’s single
point doesn’t reflect their strong performances, City’s attacking prowess is
undeniable.

Goals are often a feature when these two sides meet, and we anticipate
another entertaining affair. Despite Brighton’s home advantage and recent
Carabao Cup triumph, the quality and depth of Manchester City are likely to
prevail.

Prediction: Brighton 2–3 Man City

James Cormack is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer with an avid
interest in tactical and player analysis. As well as supporting Spurs
religiously, he follows Italian and German football, taking particular
interest in the work of Antonio Conte & Julian Nagelsmann.