Manchester City 2 (Rayan Cherki 32′, Savinho 67′)
Brentford 0
Manchester City have booked their place in the semi-final stage of the Carabao Cup tonight with a 2-nil win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. Nico, Nico O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki were the only four players to keep their spots in the starting lineup from Manchester City’s win over Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola used tonight’s match as an opportunity to play City’s fringe players and the majority of them impressed at the Etihad Stadium.
First half
The first ten minutes of the match passed by without incident. There was no real flow to the game early on as both teams lacked rhythm given the number of changes both teams made to their starting lineups from last weekend’s Premier League fixtures. James Trafford played several promising long balls for City early on and Brentford had a couple of long throw-ins from Michael Kayode but all told nothing significant occurred during the opening ten minutes.
Rayan Cherki would put the first shot of the game just wide in the 13th minute. Savinho made a good run on the left wing and played in a good cross across the Brentford penalty area. Unfortunately, Divine Mukasa didn’t gamble on getting on the end of Savinho’s cross. The ball was recycled and it came to Rayan Cherki who put a low left-footed drive from outside the area just wide of the near post with Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson scrambling.
Abdukodir Khusanov was fortunate to stay on the pitch in the 15th minute. Brentford centre-back Kristoffer Ajer played a long ball over the top of the City defence to play in Kevin Schade. Khusanov fouled Schade who looked to be in on goal. Abdukodir Khusanov looked to be the last man and his foul did seem to deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The referee showed Khusanov a yellow card for his foul on Schade which did seem to be a fortunate decision for Manchester City. James Trafford would make his first save of the night from the resulting free kick to keep out a Mathias Jensen free kick from 30 yards out.
Rayan Cherki sees another shot saved as Manchester City up the ante.
Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson would keep out a long-range strike from Rayan Cherki in the 23rd minute. Some fine play from Nico broke open the Brentford defence. Nico played a ball into Cherki in space and the French international unleashed a stinging shot from 25 yards out. Valdimarsson made a good save to his left to keep out Cherki’s strike. City had seemed to have upped the ante in the lead-up to Cherki’s shot.
Rayan Cherki blasts City into the lead!!!!!
Manchester City would take the lead in the 32nd minute. Divine Mukasa played in a corner to the backpost which was initially cleared by the Brentford defence. The ball fell to Rayan Cherki who checked his way around a Brentford defender before he unleashed an unstoppable right-footed shot past Valdimarsson in the Brentford goal to give City the lead. It was a brilliant strike from outside the box by Cherki to give his team the lead.
🚨🏴 RAYAN CHERKI OPENS THE SCORING FOR MANCHESTER CITY! WHAT A FANTASTIC GOAL! 🤯pic.twitter.com/j2UlWufTWX
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 17, 2025
Rayan Cherki’s spectacular strike would be the final significant moment of the first half. Manchester City would take a 1-nil lead into the interval in a performance where they grew into the game as the half progressed. The major concern for City was the performance of Abdukodir Khusanov. The young centre-back was fortunate to stay on the pitch and had a couple of nervy moments at the back. All told, City deserved their lead but the game wasn’t over at halftime.
Second half
Nico O’Reilly would have the first shot on target of the second half in the 49th minute. Some nice play from Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden saw the ball played to Nico outside the Brentford penalty area. Nico laid the ball off to Nico O’Reilly who hit a first-time shot straight at Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson in the Brentford goal.
James Trafford would make a pair of saves in the 53rd and 54th minutes to preserve Manchester City’s lead. Trafford would first keep out a stinging Kristoffer Ajer strike from long range. He would again deny Michael Kayode a minute later with another good save.
Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson would make a fine save to deny Phil Foden in the 64th minute. Foden worked his way into the area with a sublime piece of control. He hit a low volley that was destined for the bottom corner before Vladimarsson got down low to his left to deny Foden.
Savinho doubles Manchester City’s lead!!!!
Savinho would give Manchester City a 2-nil lead in the 67th minute. Tijjani Reijnders played the Brazilian international in behind the Brentford defence as the visitors pushed forward to try and find an equaliser. Savinho drove into the Brentford area and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike at goal. The ball hit Brentford Kristoffer Ajer who was trying to make a desperate block with a sliding tackle and the deflection looped over Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson in the Brentford goal to double Manchester City’s lead.
🚨🏴 SAVINHO DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR MANCHESTER CITYpic.twitter.com/1Vp6Clcqcd
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 17, 2025
As the game entered the final ten minutes it did appear that Savinho’s goal had taken the sting out of the game. There was a special moment as Charlie Gray came on for his Manchester City debut in the game’s closing stages.
The final stages of the match played out without incident as Manchester City booked their place on the semi-final stage of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 2-nil win.
First thoughts at the final whistle.
Manchester City cruised past Brentford in style tonight at the Etihad Stadium. It was almost the ideal win for Pep Guardiola’s side. Players such as Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake and James Trafford impressed which was pleasing to see. Rayan Cherki dazzled in a man-of-the-match display to continue his strong run of form. The only downside of the night was the injury suffered by Oscar Bobb in the first half. All told it was a good night for City as they made it six consecutive wins in all competitions.