Shell-shocked from a Chelsea draw in which they dropped two points in stoppage time and lost key defenders Ruben Dias and Joško Gvardiol to injury, City nearly handed a dream return to a Brighton icon.
Less than two minutes in, Pascal Gross ghosted away from debutant defender Max Alleyne to meet Diego Gomez’s cross, though Gianluigi Donnarumma was able to get down to keep his header out.
The hosts controlled possession after that, but they were soon opened up again on the counter through Ferdi Kadıoğlu, only for Donnarumma to make a stop.
City looked to brush off a shaky start and began to have chances of their own, but Pep Guardiola’s high and inexperienced backline was exploited again.
This time, it was Georginio Rutter who was sent racing away, only for Abdukodir Khusanov to recover and take the ball away at the last moment.
That was what City needed to finally spring themselves into action in the final third, and they punished Brighton’s wastefulness just before half-time. Jeremy Doku burst into the area and was felled by Gomez’s trailing leg, allowing Erling Haaland to step up to the penalty spot and net his first goal in four matches.
Aside from Bernardo Silva striking the post, the home side didn’t look too convincing after the restart, leading to a deserved Brighton equaliser. After receiving the ball from Yasin Ayari on the left-hand side of the area, Kaoru Mitoma darted inside and delicately swept a finish into the far bottom corner.
The Japanese international would have set up a second just moments later had Gomez been able to twist his body and tap into an open goal, but the final moments were all about City.
Kadioglu was in the perfect position to clear Haaland’s header off the line, shortly before City’s talisman failed to capitalise on a defensive mistake by placing his finish too close to Bart Verbruggen.
Rayan Cherki went close as City reached desperation in the final moments, but there was to be no winner.
Having not dropped points from a winning position at home since March 2025, the Sky Blues have now done so in consecutive matches, and their lacklustre start to 2026 could well see Arsenal go eight points ahead after matchday 21’s conclusion.
It’s just the fourth time in 16 visits to this ground that Brighton have avoided defeat, a result which sees them go unbeaten against City in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)
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