MANCHESTER CITY 2, BRIGHTON 0
Raheem Sterling scored one and made one for Sergio Aguero as Manchester City warmed up for the Champions League away trip to Hoffenheim with a 2-0 win at home to Brighton.
Sterling opened the scoring after Brighton held out for nearly half an hour, finishing off a fast counter attack by Manchester City with a tap-in off Leroy Sane’s cross at the end.
Resorting to poor tackles to stop City, Brighton couldn’t quite escape the City press and put their bodies on the line to block shots from the Blues. David Silva was denied early by Mathew Ryan in the second half after a spell of intense pressure which also saw Sergio Aguero’s shot blocked.
Brighton were more physical after the break but City shrugged them off, scoring their second goal from another lightning counter attack when Ryan’s goal kick was won by City and taken upfield by Sergio Aguero who scored after a neat 1-2 with Sterling.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Ederson: 6. Little to do as his defence protected him well.
Kyle Walker: 7. Went forward confidently but with Zinchenko on the other flank his runs were more considered.
Nicolas Otamendi: 8. Calm presence at the back and saw off Jurgen Locadia.
Aymeric Laporte: 8. Good involvement in the build-up, weathered the Brighton physical approach – on the receiving end of some tough challenges. And covered for Oleksandr Zinchenko who spent a lot of time in midfield.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 8. Combative and attacking link play with Leroy Sane and David Silva, little defending to do but looks more like a Premier League player.
Fernandinho: 7. Had a shot on goal saved but otherwise a quiet game.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Nice flick for Sergio Aguero early on, battled with Brighton for possession.
David Silva: 8. Combined well down the left flank with Leroy Sane and Oleksandr Zinchenko
Raheem Sterling: 9. He was there at the back post for a tap-in from Leroy Sane’s cross and could have had a second but for a great save by Ryan. Constantly testing Brighton and laid on Sergio Aguero’s goal in the second half.
Sergio Aguero: 8. Early overhead kick blocked – a constant threat for City and his workrate was rewarded with goal in the second half.
Leroy Sane: 8. Looked up for it with attacking threat from wide, testing Mathew Ryan and provided a cross for Raheem Sterling’s opener.
Gabriel Jesus (on for Sergio Aguero 66): 6. Game tempo had dropped markedly by the time he came on.
Riyad Mahrez (on for Leroy Sane 70): 6. Tame shot saved by Ryan.
Phil Foden (on for David Silva 88): No time to score.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man City 1, Brighton 0: 29. Raheem Sterling tap in at the back post from 3 yards after a great cross from the left by Leroy Sane ending a superb counter attack by Manchester City. His fourth of the season.
Man City 2, Brighton 0: 65. Sergio Aguero exchanges passes with Raheem Sterling before slotting home past Mathew Ryan after City won Ryan’s goal kick and drove upfield.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, David Silva (Foden 88), Sterling, Aguero (Jesus 66), Sane (Mahrez 70)
Man City Subs not used: Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Stones
Goals: Sterling 29, Aguero 65
Brighton: Ryan, Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bong, Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 79), Propper, Kayal, March (Izquierdo 83), Bissouma, Locadia (Murray 73)
Brighton Subs not used: Bruno, Balogun, Button, Bernardo
Booked: Knockeart 9, Duffy 42, Montoya 87