Report and free match highlights as Erling Haaland fired Man City to victory and fifth place in the Premier League table; Rodri went off injured in the first half but later played down the severity of his problem; City had to hold on as Brentford pushed for equaliser; Bees stay 16th
Erling Haaland’s first-half strike earned Man City a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford, which moves them to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal – and there was a positive update on an injury to Rodri.
City were completely dominant during a first half which saw in-form Haaland bulldoze past Sepp van den Berg to blast in his 18th goal of the season for club and country. His run of scoring in nine games in a row is the best of his career at this level.
Caoimhin Kelleher also made a stunning stop from Tijjani Reijnders, while Phil Foden missed a string of chances. Brentford didn’t manage a touch in the City box and the visitors should have been out of sight.
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But Rodri’s exit on 20 minutes after he pulled up clutching his right thigh will have concerned Pep Guardiola, who had been managing the midfielder’s minutes as he continued to build up his fitness after his long ACL layoff last season.
Rodri reveals the extent of the hamstring injury he suffered against Brentford that forced him off in the 22nd minute in Man City’s win.
Later, Rodri – who spent the second half coaching his team-mates from the sidelines before celebrating with them on the pitch at full-time – gave Sky Sports an encouraging assessment of the problem, saying: “I feel a little bit in the hamstring but, I don’t know, it seems like it’s not that much. Hopefully I can be in the next game.”
Rodri’s absence was a big factor in Man City’s drop-off last term and City lost their stranglehold on this contest after the break, as Brentford upped the intensity. Igor Thiago squandered their best chance, allowing Gianluigi Donnarumma the opportunity to close him down in a one-on-one situation. There was an onslaught of high balls into the City box too.
But City – who conceded a last-gasp equaliser at Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday – stood up and held on to go into the international break on a seven-game unbeaten run and in an encouraging league position. Brentford – who failed to score for the first time this season – remain 16th.
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