Manchester Metropolis have been held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Brentford on Tuesday night time, 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 choose up all three factors to seal a spot within the Premier League’s top-four. Nevertheless, the hosts have been immediate to make it identified that the duty wouldn’t be straightforward.
Brentford squandered early possibilities in entrance of purpose however did nicely in containing the guests in assault. Metropolis appeared to interrupt away just a few occasions however couldn’t deter the defence and have been restricted to solely two pictures heading in the right direction within the first-half as neither facet might get on the scorecard.
The second-half took an intense flip with good performs from each side. The Bees virtually grabbed a gap purpose by way of Yoane Wissa however have been denied by Josko Gvardiol. Within the speedy aftermath, Savinho discovered Kevin De Bruyne on the suitable, and the Belgian whipped a cross in 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 cushty lead, however the hosts – who had induced hassle 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 purpose.
The guests struggled to construct momentum whereas Brentford relentlessly labored to discover a second. They’d be rewarded for his or her continued stress, as Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross from the suitable met Christian Nørgaard, who beat Manuel Akanji within the air and headed the ball simply previous Stefan Ortega to salvage some extent.
Manchester Metropolis have been punished for coasting in direction of the tip, particularly with Thomas Frank’s facet adamant in pursuit of factors. If not for Nathan Ake’s late goal-line clearance, the Sky Blues could have misplaced all three.
With all hopes of competing within the title race disappearing, Manchester Metropolis will now look to make amends once 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 really formidable opponent, we can’t 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 clear 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 rely. This uncovered gaps within the line of defense, which had Matheus Nunes at right-back. Bernardo Silva typically dropped deep to assist. Apart from that, it was a typical scene. Josko Gvardiol misplaced his footing just a few 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 nicely 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 through the second purpose.
The defence is way from woeful, however these exhausted on the again have a tendency to sit down off in direction of the tip of the match. A collapsing midfield doesn’t assist their case. Thus, except Metropolis plans to usher in recent legs, extra of its leads will finish with a draw or a loss in opposition to groups prepared 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 damage added an immediate spark to assault, however his efficiency in opposition to Brentford confirmed how useful he’s in boosting possibilities in entrance of the purpose.
De Bruyne often gained the ball within the midfield to cease harmful counters and frequently discovered his well past a Brentford defence with exact by way of balls. At one level, he bailed out the defenders once they turned frantic whereas enjoying out from the again and arrange a counterattack in the identical play.
His free-kick and pictures heading in the right direction have been uncharacteristically inaccurate, stopping his efficiency from being categorised as masterful. But, his prowess at full show was an essential 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 awesome season however nonetheless has just a few essential objectives. The Metropolis star bagged a brace in opposition to Brentford, showcasing his brilliance. And that’s maybe the most important situation with the England Worldwide this season. It’s truthful to say that he has been totally off his sport.
Foden struggled to make an impression with out the ball. His efficiency would have been massively scrutinised if he hadn’t scored the objectives, finally changing into essentially the most important think about evaluating his sport in opposition to Brentford. The excellent news is that he appears to be gaining confidence with every sport and, hopefully, is nearer to discovering his mojo than what seems.
The *virtually* issue
Metropolis has proven important 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 provide within the ultimate third. The Brazilian was unfortunate to see his greatest probability 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 rely when it mattered. Erling Haaland additionally noticed his miscalculated makes an attempt at purpose finish with saves, however he did nicely to win the ball and create possibilities. That elevated the Norwegian’s efficiency regardless of him not scoring a purpose, however was it sufficient? Bernardo Silva ran miles however supplied almost nothing within the assault.
Metropolis have grown snug in taking their possibilities in entrance of purpose. However with defensive liabilities on the again, these enjoying up-front should scale the variety of possibilities created. Nearly all assaults culminate in a single transfer of drawing the defenders out broad earlier than crossing the ball.
This technique fails to maintain up with a disciplined defence, particularly when there are not 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 stated, 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 determined by them to manage possession. Nevertheless, this has been probably the most weak facets of Metropolis’s sport this season, particularly within the defensive midfield function. The Sky Blues are likely to lose the ball in midfield too typically, leaving a struggling again our vulnerable 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 answerable for the objectives, Gundogan’s introduction late within the sport definitely didn’t assist the trigger. It didn’t occur for the primary time and is prone 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 selection of substitutions and whether or not the Sky Blues can genuinely afford to take their foot off the peddle within the sport’s dying minutes when their complete midfield could be overrun by any facet affected person sufficient to string just a few passes collectively.