# Brighton end their wait for a league win at Manchester City on an early Yasin Ayari goal

Brighton had never won a league match away at Manchester City. A missed clearance in the 11th minute and Bart Verbruggen's goalkeeping changed that, and the 1-0 defeat is City's second in a row in the league.

Report · Premier League
Editorial board · 31 October 2026

- Manchester City v Brighton
- Kick-off: 2026-10-31 15:00 UTC
- Ground: Etihad Stadium
- Status: Full time
- Score: Manchester City 0 – 1 Brighton
- Full time: Yasin Ayari 11′

Brighton had never won a league match away at Manchester City. A missed clearance in the 11th minute and Bart Verbruggen's goalkeeping changed that, and the 1-0 defeat is City's second in a row in the league.

Matheus Nunes had the chance to clear a low cross into the area and missed it. Maxim De Cuyper, waiting behind him, laid the ball to Yasin Ayari, who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range.

Three minutes after the restart Ayari turned provider and found De Cuyper unmarked, but the Belgian sent his first-time shot over the bar. That miss kept City in the match, and the rest of the afternoon belonged to Verbruggen.

He pushed Iliman Ndiaye's shot onto the woodwork, stopped Nunes when Rayan Cherki's pass put him through, and late on saved from Abdukodir Khusanov before Nico O'Reilly put the rebound wide. Lewis Dunk had already blocked Erling Haaland's clearest chance before half-time, and City's run of 24 league games with a goal is over.

Three days earlier the same sides drew 2-2 on the same ground and City went through on penalties. City stay top on 21 points, ahead of Arsenal only on goal difference before Arsenal go to Liverpool on Sunday; Brighton are third on 19, two points behind.