Man City vs. Brentford score, stats, highlights, Premier League result, analysis as Doku dazzles again in vital win

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ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER – Jeremy Doku continued his fine run of form as Manchester City battled to 3-0 win over Brentford that keeps their Premier League title hopes alive.

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The Belgium winger salvaged a point as he completed a fabulous brace deep into stoppage time at Everton on Monday night and he broke the deadlock with another unerring strike into the top corner to puncture the Etihad Stadium tension with an hour played.

City had to ride their luck at times, with Matheus Nunes reprieved for a couple of untidy last-man challenges on Kevin Schade. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a superb save to deny the Golden Boot-chasing Igor Thiago when the score was 0-0.

But Erling Haaland extended his advantage over Thiago at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 15 minutes remaining. The giant Norwegian picked through some penalty box chaos to net his 26th Premier League goal of the season with an improvised backheel finish.

The more pertinent statistic is Arsenal’s lead at the summit is cut to two ahead of their trip to relegation-threatened West Ham tomorrow.

This state of affairs was confirmed when substitute Omar Marmoush arrowed home a smart finish to crown a fine counter-attack in stoppage time. The margin of victory is another positive for Pep Gaurdiola’s side in the event of a gripping race for glory going down to goal difference. At fulltime, those figures read Arsenal +41 and City +40. City have scored five more goals than their rivals.

There is still plenty more road to travel before that stuff has any chance of really mattering, though. City play their game in hand at home to Conference League finalists Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

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Man City vs. Brentford live score

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Starting lineups:

Man City (4-2-3-1 right to left): 25 Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) — 27. Matheus Nunes, 15. Marc Guehi, 6. Nathan Ake, 33. Nico O’Reilly — 4. Tijjani Reijnders, 20. Bernardo Silva — 14. Antoine Semenyo, 10. Rayan Cherki, 11. Jeremy Doku — 9. Erling Haaland

Brentford (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Caoimhin Kelleher (GK) – 33. Michael Kayode, 20. Kristoffer Ajer, 22. Nathan Collins, 2. Aaron Hickey – 18. Yehor Yarmolyuk, 8. Mathias Jensen – 23. Keane Lewis-Potter, 24. Mikkel Damsgaard, 7. Kevin Schade – 9. Igor Thiago

Man City vs. Brentford highlights, key incidents

90+2 min: 3-0! Marmoush!!! Sweeping City counter attack, Haaland turns provider and Marmoush gives a reminder of his own finishing prowess, arrowing an assured strike across Kelleher. 

Omar Marmoush makes it 3-0 to Manchester City and Pep is loving it 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ptWWq1NlVY

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2026

83 mins: Astonishing save from Kelleher! Doku gets to the byline, Foden applies the finish at the near post. That’s flying into the corner, job done. But no, Brentford’s Ireland goalkeeper springs full length and somehow turns the ball over the bar. That’s absolutely incredible goalkeeping.

75 mins: Haaland makes it 2-0! That’s the breathing space City needed. Chaos in the Brentford box and Haaland fashions a clever backheeled finish for his 26th Premier League goal of the season.

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Erling Haaland has struck to double Manchester City’s advantage 💥 pic.twitter.com/0V8IjNQIfu

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2026

71 mins: Brentford penalty claim rejected! Brenford surge forward, as they have so often. Shades of offside perhaps, but Schade is down in a heap, Nunes at the scene of the crime again. Minimal contact and the ball not under control but not enough for Salisbury to visit the screen. 

67 mins: Almost 2-0! The ball is slipped to Foden inside a crowded penalty area. He loves scoring against Brentford, but Kelleher is out to make a sharp save.

60 mins: Jeremy Doku does it again! City lead 1-0

Fresh from his spectacular midweek brace against Everton, Doku scores another pearler, cutting in from a short corner on the left. He gets a bit of luck as the ball bounces back to him off a defender but creams it into the top corner.

Jeremy Doku is at it AGAIN for Man City! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/p3rkazaUUi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2026

A sidenote: Just before the goal, Guardiola brought in Foden and Marmoush for Reijnders and Cherki. This is now very attacking team to see out a 1-0 win. Bernardo Silva playing in holding midfield on his own, on a yellow card.

55 mins: End-to-end feel after half time and Brentford sweep forward, Kayode playing Thiago through. Donnarumma stands firm to make an excellent save and his defence scramble behind.

Halftime

City have steadied the ship and dominated the final 20 minutes of the half, but tempers are fraying here. Home captain Bernardo Silva got one of the more unusual bookings of the season when he appeared to hit Nathan Collins in the back of the calf with his arm after the Brentford skipper threw him to the floor. The home fans boo referee Michael Salisbury at halftime. The official hasn’t exactly won a new friends in Pep Guardiola, but it’s hard to pinpoint any huge gripes City should be allowing themselves to linger on.

25 mins: Semenyo has Hickey and Damsgaard for company but gets the cross in. Haaland’s header is on target this time but Kelleher can get behind it with ease.

22 mins: Now then… Schade springs the City offside trap, Nunes in pursuit and they both tumble. No foul! If it had been, the Manchester City right-back was walking. Keith Andrews is furious on the touchline. It did look more like a stumble from Nunes and a coming together, but hearts were definitely in mouths around the Etihad Stadium.

20 mins: City have been easily second-best here but finally fashion a sustained attack. Bernardo Silva goes for the spectacular with the outside of his left boot. Not too far away. Now Haaland with a header on the end of Doku’s cross… over, should score.

8 mins: Oh my! Donnarumma gets himself in a dreadful mess under Kayode’s first long throw of the afternoon and needs Matheus Nunes to hack off the line.

Man City vs. Brentford match stats

Man City vs. Brentford talking points, analysis

Match analysis will appear here after fulltime.

Man City vs. Brentford reaction

Post-match reaction from Pep Guardiola, Keith Andrews and players from both sides will appear here.

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Man City vs. Brentford team news

Man City team news

• Pep Guardiola is likely to remain without Rodri (groin), with the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner yet to return to full training late this week.
• Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are both back in training, but this game may come too soon for either to start.
• Guardiola could move Nico O’Reilly into midfield, which would mean a recall for Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left-hand side of defence.

Brentford team news

• After the big win over West Ham, Keith Andrews has little need to change his lineup.
• Mathias Jensen is the only player from the Bees’ lineup from the famous win at the Etihad in 2022 who will start again here.
• Igor Thiago leads the line on 22 league goals, though Kevin Schade’s eight-game goal drought puts him under threat — Keane Lewis-Potter could move into attack if he drops out.

Man City vs. Brentford upcoming schedules

Man City upcoming fixtures

Brentford upcoming fixtures