Brentford 0-1 Manchester City Player Ratings: Phil Foden 8.5/10 Rated as Haaland's Early Strike Secures Narrow 1-0 Victory

A solitary, clinical strike from Erling Haaland in the opening ten minutes was all it took for Manchester City to edge past a resilient Brentford side at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Premier League encounter was decided early, but the tension never subsided. The City's dominance in possession was evident from the start. They controlled the tempo for large spells.

Brentford, however, refused to be mere spectators in their own home. They defended with grit and looked to counter whenever possible, creating a few nervy moments for the visitors. The match saw City suffer an early blow with the injury to midfield anchor Rodri. Despite this, City's creative forces, particularly Phil Foden, kept probing.

What stood out to us was Brentford's refusal to crumble after conceding. They stayed compact and disciplined, making it a frustrating afternoon for City's attackers. Ultimately, City's early goal proved decisive, securing them three hard-fought points on the road. It was a game of fine margins, really. Here are the Brentford vs Man City player ratings.

Man City Player Ratings vs Brentford

Here are the Man City player ratings vs Brentford.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7.0: Had a relatively quiet day but was called upon when it mattered. Made a key save from Igor Thiago in the second half. His distribution was calm and collected, with 85% pass accuracy. He commanded his area well, claiming high balls confidently. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the Italian keeper.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 7.5: A rock at the back for City. The captain was imperious, winning 7 of 9 duels and making crucial clearances and interceptions. His passing was near-perfect at 97%, keeping possession ticking over from deep. From our perspective, he read the game beautifully, snuffing out danger before it developed. A true leader's performance.

Josko Gvardiol - 8.0: An excellent all-round display. Provided the crucial assist for Haaland's goal and was a constant threat going forward. Defensively, he was strong, contributing with clearances and interceptions. His one error leading to a shot was a minor blemish on an otherwise stellar game. We noticed his confidence on the ball, always looking to play forward.

Matheus Nunes - 7.0: A very busy performance. He had an incredible 123 touches, showcasing his involvement. He was strong in his duels and recovered the ball well. The yellow card was a result of his energetic style. We felt he was a bit loose in possession at times, but his work rate was undeniable.

Nico O'Reilly - 7.0: A promising display from the youngster. He was heavily involved with 112 touches and created two chances, including a big one. Defensively, he was solid, winning half of his tackles and contributing to the press. The late yellow card was a sign of his commitment. He did lose possession a few times, which is something to work on.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 7.0: Looked sharp and dangerous before being substituted. He was perfect with his dribbles and had a couple of shots, testing the keeper once. His passing was crisp and inventive. We were a little surprised to see him taken off, as he seemed one of City's more likely creators. A very tidy outing.

Rodri - 6.0: His game was cruelly cut short by injury after just 22 minutes. In his short time on the pitch, he was his usual self, completing 92% of his passes. It's tough to rate him properly, but the team definitely missed his calming presence. Hopefully, the injury isn't too serious.

Savinho - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the winger. He got into good positions but struggled to make a real impact. He lost possession 15 times which felt high. We noticed his effort was there, but the final ball or decision was lacking. Not his best day at the office.

Phil Foden - 8.5: The highest-rated player on the pitch, and deservedly so. He was the creative engine for City, constantly buzzing around and looking to make things happen. He had five shots and created two key chances. Brentford found him almost impossible to mark. From our perspective, he was the man of the match, a class above.

Oscar Bobb - 7.5: A really bright and inventive performance. Created three chances and was a nightmare for defenders with his successful dribbling. He won an impressive 7 of his 10 duels. What stood out was his bravery on the ball, always willing to take a risk. A very positive contribution before his substitution.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 7.5: The match-winner. He had just one shot, and he buried it. That's what makes him world-class. His overall involvement was limited with only 23 touches, but he did his job perfectly. He was a physical presence, winning his aerial duels and holding up the ball. The ultimate poacher's performance.

Substitutes

Nico González - 6.5: Came on for the injured Rodri and did a decent job. Kept things simple and helped City maintain control in midfield. A steady presence.

Jérémy Doku - N/A: Came on late and didn't have enough time to influence the game.

Bernardo Silva - N/A: Replaced Reijnders but had limited minutes to make a mark.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 7.5: His team got the job done. They dominated the ball and secured a win away from home. He had to react to Rodri's early injury, and his side managed the game well. Perhaps he would have wanted more goals, but three points is three points. A professional victory.

Brentford Player Ratings vs Man City

Here are the Brentford player ratings vs Man City.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 7.5: He couldn't do anything about Haaland's goal. Made three important saves, including two from inside the box, to keep his team in the match. His distribution was okay, and he was commanding on high claims. A strong performance despite the loss, he was one of Brentford's best players.

Defenders

Aaron Hickey - 5.5: A really tough day for Hickey. He struggled against City's fluid attackers and lost possession 15 times. He was dribbled past and found it difficult to contribute going forward. He kept working but was clearly outmatched in this one. A learning experience for the defender.

Sepp van den Berg - 6.5: A solid and unfussy defensive display. His pass accuracy was a remarkable 97%, showing his composure under pressure. He won most of his aerial duels and made a couple of key clearances. He was, however, dribbled past once. Overall, a decent showing against top opposition.

Kristoffer Ajer - 6.0: A mixed bag from Ajer. He made some important tackles and blocks, but also lost half of his duels. He was aggressive and committed, sometimes to a fault. He struggled to cope with the movement of City's forwards at times. An average performance.

Nathan Collins - 6.0: The captain had a busy afternoon. He was solid in possession with 92% pass accuracy but lost most of his aerial battles. Made three crucial interceptions but was also dribbled past. It felt like he was stretched to his limit by City's attack. A battling performance but not his most commanding.

Michael Kayode - 6.0: He worked tirelessly up and down the flank. He lost possession quite a bit, which was disappointing. Defensively, he contributed with clearances and interceptions. His crossing wasn't as effective as he would have liked. A performance full of effort, if lacking in quality.

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson - 6.0: A quiet game by his standards. He struggled to get on the ball and dictate play as he usually does. His passing was a bit off, and he lost more duels than he won. The yellow card for a frustrated foul summed up his difficult evening before being subbed off.

Yegor Yarmolyuk - 6.5: An energetic and combative display in midfield. He recovered the ball six times and wasn't afraid to put a tackle in. However, he also lost possession frequently and his influence waned before he was forced off with an injury. A spirited effort.

Mikkel Damsgaard - 6.0: He was dribbled past five times, which is a startling statistic. He worked hard defensively, making tackles and interceptions, but it was a tough assignment. Going forward, he struggled to make an impact. A difficult day against a world-class midfield.

Forwards

Kevin Schade - 6.5: Brentford's most lively attacker. He created two chances and was a willing runner, drawing fouls from City's defence. He battled hard, winning a decent number of his duels. His end product wasn't always there, but he was a constant nuisance.

Igor Thiago - 6.5: Had a big chance in the second half that was well-saved. He provided a physical presence up front and won most of his duels. His hold-up play was decent, but he was isolated for long periods. A thankless task, but he stuck to it well before being substituted.

Substitutes

Dango Ouattara - 6.0: Brought on to add some spark but couldn't really get into the game.

Mathias Jensen - 6.0: Added fresh legs but City's control of the game was too strong.

Frank Onyeka - N/A: Came on for the injured Yarmolyuk with little time remaining.

Vitaly Janelt - N/A: Late substitute with not enough time to make an impact.

Fábio Carvalho - N/A: A very late cameo appearance.

Manager

K. Andrews - 7.0: Set his team up well to be competitive. They were organized, resilient, and never gave up. They were ultimately beaten by a moment of quality. He can be proud of his team's effort against the champions. The substitutions didn't quite change the game, but his game plan was sound.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Phil Foden