Manchester City demolished Brentford 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium to consolidate second place, with Jérémy Doku's outstanding performance setting the tone for a dominant display.
Manchester City came into this clash sitting second in the Premier League table with 71 points from 34 matches. Brentford occupied seventh place with 51 points from 35 games. City's recent form showed a mixed run of results, while the visitors struggled with consistency. The stage was set for City to flex their muscle against a Brentford side fighting to maintain their top-flight status.
The opening 45 minutes saw City control possession with 59 percent of the ball. They created multiple chances but found Brentford's defense resilient. Caoimhin Kelleher made several important saves in the Brentford goal. City's passing accuracy reached 86 percent as they probed for openings. The first half ended goalless despite City's dominance.
City needed to break the deadlock. Their attacking players pressed higher after the break. The intensity increased noticeably in the opening minutes of the second period. Brentford defended deep, hoping to catch City on the counter-attack.
The deadlock finally broke in the 60th minute when Jérémy Doku fired past Kelleher to give City the lead. Doku's movement and positioning had been exceptional throughout. His finish was clinical and well-deserved. The goal sparked City into life, and they pressed for more.
Erling Haaland doubled City's advantage in the 75th minute with a composed finish. The striker showed his usual predatory instinct in the box. Brentford's defense could not contain City's attacking threat. The game was effectively settled at this point.
Omar Marmoush sealed the victory in the 90th minute plus two seconds with City's third goal. He had come off the bench and made an immediate impact. The late goal ended any hope Brentford harbored of a comeback. City controlled the closing stages comfortably.
City's statistics illustrated their superiority. They recorded 25 total shots with 10 on target. Their expected goals (xG) reached 2.98 compared to Brentford's 0.24. The visitors managed just four shots total with only two on target. Kelleher made seven saves to keep the deficit from widening further.
Doku earned a perfect 10.0 rating for his display. He created six key passes and converted both his shots on target. His performance was the standout feature of City's attacking play. Bernardo Silva and Marc Guéhi also impressed for the hosts.
City's victory strengthens their grip on second place. The three points extend their tally to 74 from 35 matches. Brentford remains seventh with 51 points from their 35 games. The gap between the sides remains substantial in the final stretch of the season.
Manchester City travel to their next fixture seeking to maintain momentum. Brentford must regroup quickly to salvage their season. Both teams face crucial matches in their respective quests.
