Maresca braced for another tough test in Brighton repeat

Sign InSportsMaresca braced for another tough test in Brighton repeatBy Stacy Boit · October 30, 2026 · 2 min readSponsored AdManchester City manager Enzo Maresca has warned his squad to expect a fierce challenge from Brighton this weekend when the two teams clash again just days after their dramatic League Cup encounter.

City, the defending League Cup champions, survived a scare against the Seagulls on Wednesday, coming from behind twice at the Etihad Stadium to secure a 2-2 draw before edging through on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.

After both managers made a combined 16 changes to their lineups for mid-week cup duty, Maresca and Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler are expected to restore their strongest starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League rematch back at the Etihad.

Table-toppers City are level on points with champions Arsenal, while third-placed Brighton are just five points behind the leading duo.

“They (Brighton) are in a brilliant moment,” said Maresca. “They are winning games, they are scoring goals. They are scoring many goals every game – three, four, five, goals a game.

“I’ve watched all their Premier League games since we started, and since the first day – against Arsenal, (Crystal) Palace, Liverpool, they always go front foot, man to man.

“We knew that this was a tough game and they’re going to be exactly the same on Saturday,” added Maresca.

Brighton took the lead in the 30th minute when Malick Yalcouyé turned in Georginio Rutter’s effort past Geronimo Rulli from close range.

City responded 20 minutes later as Mateo Kovacic brought the hosts level with a stunning 25-yard curling strike into the far corner.

Brighton regained the advantage just two minutes after the restart, with Rutter finishing cleanly from Jaouen Hadjam’s cut-back. However, City equalized once more in the 72nd minute when Rayan Cherki’s free-kick deflected in off Vitor Reis to force the match into penalties.

Kovacic’s penalty was saved by Jason Steele in the shoot-out, but Rulli denied Brighton’s Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City into the last eight.

City’s season continues under the shadow of being found guilty last month on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules.

The club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing, but face a severe sanction unless they overturn the verdict.

No punishment has yet been announced, however, and Maresca – who has repeatedly stated his complete trust in City’s hierarchy – remains focused on on-field issues, with his side drawn at home to third-tier Bradford in the League Cup quarter-finals.

“It’s a different competition, but the ambition has to be the same,” said Maresca, who took charge following Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of last season, concluding the Spaniard’s trophy-laden decade at the helm.

“This is a new project with new players, a new manager. It started three months ago,” Maresca added. “We need to do our business. That is winning games and, at the moment, we are doing that.”