Manchester City vs Brentford prediction and odds ahead of COMP clash

• Sport
• Football
• Premier League

Pep Guardiola's side suffered a surprising defeat to Aston Villa last weekend but will be looking to bounce back quickly when they welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium

Looking to disrupt the Premier League’s traditional Big Six, second-placed Bournemouth will put their credentials to the test against fifth-placed Manchester City in an intriguing clash at the Etihad on Sunday. Andoni Iraola’s Cherries climbed into the runners-up spot with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, while the Citizens’ hopes of retaining the title suffered another blow with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Manchester City’s fortunes this season have often mirrored those of Erling Haaland. When the Norwegian striker fails to score, so too do the Sky Blues. Last weekend marked only the second time in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign that Haaland drew a blank—following August’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur—and City were unable to find a response to Aston Villa’s disciplined performance. Matty Cash’s solitary goal handed Unai Emery’s side victory and condemned Pep Guardiola’s men to their third league defeat of the season, leaving them six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

While a six-point gap with 29 matches remaining is far from decisive, City’s heavy reliance on Haaland—who has netted 65% of their league goals this term—could become a significant concern if he were to suffer any injury setbacks. In midweek EFL Cup action, City managed without Haaland to overcome Swansea City 3-1, coming from behind to book a spot in the quarter-finals. The Etihad remains a fortress, with City winning their last four home games across all competitions, scoring 12 and conceding just once. Notably, the last time City lost three of their opening nine league matches, they rebounded to claim the 2013-14 Premier League title.

As City, Liverpool, and Chelsea struggle for consistency, Bournemouth are thriving. The South Coast side currently sit as Arsenal’s closest challengers after a record-breaking start to the 2025-26 season. With 18 points from nine matches—their best-ever top-flight tally at this stage, surpassing the 17 points earned under Eddie Howe in 2018-19—Iraola’s men are enjoying a remarkable run. Their latest triumph saw them secure a milestone 100th Premier League victory, overcoming Nottingham Forest with a contentious Marcus Tavernier corner and a fourth league goal from Eli Junior Kroupi.

Man City vs Brentford Betting Tips

• Man City to win and both teams to score - 87/100 (Betfred)
• Antoine Semenyo to score anytime - 11/10 (Betfred)
• Erling Haaland to score anytime - 19/10 (Betfred)

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