How Many Times Have Man City and Brentford Played Each Other?
The clubs have met eight times in the Premier League, two fixtures per season since Brentford won promotion in 2021. That play-off final victory over Swansea restarted a rivalry that stretches back to the 1930s, when Brentford were an established First Division club.
For that reason, the starting point for Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats is 2021. Before it, the clubs crossed paths in lower divisions and cup football for decades, including spells when City themselves played outside the top flight. Every meeting since promotion has come in the league, with no FA Cup or Carabao Cup draws between them so far.
Man City vs Brentford F.C. Stats: Every Premier League Result
Here is the complete timeline of the fixture in the top flight. Eight games, seven City wins, one shock.
- Dec 2021, Gtech Community Stadium — Brentford 0–1 City: Phil Foden’s close-range finish settled a tight first Premier League meeting.
- Feb 2022, Etihad — City 2–0 Brentford: Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez wrapped up a controlled home win.
- Nov 2022, Gtech — Brentford 2–1 City: Ivan Toney struck twice days before the World Cup. City’s first league defeat of the season.
- 2022-23 return, Etihad — City 1–0 Brentford: Phil Foden’s second-half goal decided a nervous fixture during the title race.
- Feb 2024, Gtech — Brentford 1–3 City: Neal Maupay pounced early, then Phil Foden answered with a brilliant hat-trick.
- Feb 2024, Etihad — City 1–0 Brentford: Erling Haaland scored the only goal on his return from injury.
- Sep 2024, Etihad — City 2–1 Brentford: Yoane Wissa scored after just 22 seconds; Haaland replied with a first-half brace.
- Jan 2025, Gtech — Brentford 0–1 City: One second-half goal settled another narrow away win, City’s fifth clean sheet in the fixture.
Add the games up and Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats read 12–4 to City across those eight matches.
Who Is the Top Scorer in Man City vs Brentford Games?
Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats put one academy graduate on top of the scoring charts. Phil Foden has tormented Brentford more than any other player, with six Premier League goals in the fixture, including that February 2024 hat-trick at the Gtech.
The leading scorers list looks like this:
- Phil Foden (Man City) — 6 goals, including a hat-trick in February 2024
- Erling Haaland (Man City) — 3 goals, all scored during 2024
- Ivan Toney (Brentford) — 2 goals, both in the famous 2–1 win
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) — 1 goal
- Riyad Mahrez (Man City) — 1 goal
- Neal Maupay (Brentford) — 1 goal
- Yoane Wissa (Brentford) — 1 goal
Brentford’s output has rotated between Toney, Maupay and Wissa, while City’s production has clustered around two players. That contrast is the fixture in miniature.
What Made Brentford’s 2–1 Win Over City So Special?
November 12, 2022 remains the standout entry in Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats. Toney headed Brentford in front early, Foden equalised in first-half stoppage time, and Toney powered in the winner with under 20 minutes left. The final whistle sparked one of the loudest celebrations in the club’s modern history.
The result carried extra weight. It was Brentford’s first-ever win over Manchester City and City’s only league defeat before the World Cup break — against a side they would go on to win the Treble with that same season. Toney, then pushing for England selection, delivered the performance of his club career.
Why Do Brentford Start So Fast Against City?
Fast starts are a hidden pattern in Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats. Brentford have scored the opening goal in three of the eight meetings, and two of those strikes came almost immediately — Maupay’s early pounce in February 2024 and Wissa’s stunning 22-second goal at the Etihad in September 2024.
The plan is deliberate. Thomas Frank’s teams front-load pressure in the opening 15 minutes, hammer long balls into the channels and crowd the box for set pieces. City came back to win two of those three games, which shows the risk: Brentford’s fast starts hurt, but holding a lead against Guardiola’s side for 80 minutes is a different challenge entirely.
How Do Possession and Shot Numbers Compare?
Possession is the loudest number in Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats. City’s share typically lands between 60 and 75 percent, built on patient circles around Brentford’s low block, while the visitors keep their attempts selective and direct.
Brentford accept the ball as part of the design. Their model, built on data-led recruitment under owner Mathew Benham, trades possession for high-value situations: corners, long throws, second balls and transitions. It is why their shot counts often look modest while their chances still carry real threat.
What Role Do Set Pieces Play in This Fixture?
Set pieces are Brentford’s equaliser in every sense. Long throw-ins, drilled corners and aggressive blocking create the chaos their analytics team values, and several of their goals against City have come from direct situations rather than patient build-up.
City’s own numbers tell the opposite story. Guardiola’s side create through box entries and overloads, and their five clean sheets in eight meetings show how rarely Brentford break them down twice. Win the aerial duels and limit second phases, and Brentford’s main route back into the game closes.
Gtech Community Stadium vs the Etihad: The Home and Away Split
Venue splits sharpen Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats even more. City have a perfect record at the Etihad — four wins from four, six goals scored, one conceded. At the Gtech, the numbers tighten to three wins and that famous defeat.
The stadiums could not be more different, and the atmosphere plays a part:
- Gtech Community Stadium — opened 2020, around 17,250 seats, replaced the beloved Griffin Park and its four corner pubs
- Etihad Stadium — around 53,400 seats, one of England’s largest club grounds
Brentford have managed only three goals at home against City and one in Manchester. The tight stands and hostile noise have not yet translated into consistent home damage.
Which Managers Shaped These Numbers?
Pep Guardiola’s City entered this fixture as the dominant force in English football: six Premier League titles between 2018 and 2024, plus the 2023 Treble. His teams treat fixtures like this as control exercises, and the possession numbers prove it.
Thomas Frank built the other side of the story. He took over as head coach in 2018, won the 2021 play-off final, kept Brentford in the top flight and led them to a ninth-place finish in 2022-23. His November 2022 win over Guardiola sits among the proudest results in club history, and his departure for Tottenham in the summer of 2025 ended an eight-game era of this matchup with real tactical personality on both benches.
What Do the xG Numbers Reveal About the Fixture?
Advanced numbers back up the eyeball test. City’s shot maps from these meetings show heavy presence inside the box, with expected-goal values passing 2.0 in several games — the signature of Guardiola’s chance-factory approach.
Brentford’s xG profile looks nothing like it. Their chances arrive in short bursts, usually worth under 1.0 xG per game in this fixture, which is exactly why efficiency matters so much to them. Convert two moments from a small pool — as Toney did in 2022 — and the upset lives. Miss them, and the game drifts back to the pattern the league table predicts.
How to Check Man City vs Brentford F.C. Stats After Every Match
Want verified numbers instead of hot takes? Three primary sources cover everything you need, and all three are free.
- Premier League official match centre (premierleague.com) — the single source of truth: confirmed lineups, shots, possession and expected goals for every game, updated within hours of the final whistle
- ManCity.com — official club reports, player ratings and exclusive post-match data
- BrentfordFC.com — the club’s own match coverage, injury news and reaction
Here is the habit worth building: open the league’s match centre for the data, then read both club sites for context. The league database settles any debate, because fan blogs and social media pages routinely recycle wrong scorelines and outdated records.
Man City vs Brentford F.C. Stats: Your Questions Answered
1. What is the head-to-head record between Man City and Brentford?
The Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats read eight Premier League meetings: seven City wins, one Brentford win, zero draws. City lead the goals 12–4.
2. When did Brentford last beat Man City?
November 12, 2022, at the Gtech Community Stadium. Ivan Toney scored twice in a 2–1 win that ended City’s unbeaten league start that season.
3. Who is the top scorer in this fixture?
Phil Foden tops Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats with six Premier League goals, including a hat-trick in February 2024. Erling Haaland sits next on three.
4. What is the biggest win in the fixture?
Man City’s 3–1 victory at the Gtech in February 2024, powered by Foden’s hat-trick. Brentford’s best result is the 2–1 win from November 2022.
5. Have the clubs met outside the Premier League?
Yes. The first league meetings date back to the 1930s, when Brentford were a First Division club, and they crossed paths in lower divisions and cup football for decades. Every meeting since Brentford’s 2021 promotion has been a league fixture.
6. Where can I find verified stats after every match?
Start with the Premier League’s official match centre, then cross-check with mancity.com and brentfordfc.com. The league database is the final word on any disputed number.
The Bottom Line: What These Numbers Mean for the Next Meeting
Man City vs Brentford F.C. stats tell a story worth following: a dominant giant, one fearless overachiever and a fixture that keeps producing moments nobody sees coming. Foden’s hat-trick, Toney’s double and Wissa’s 22-second strike all happened inside eight games. The next meeting can add another chapter, and you now hold the full record to judge it against.
Bookmark this page and return after every fixture — the table and timeline above are built to be updated, not abandoned. Before the next Man City vs Brentford matchday, drop your score prediction in the comments and back it with a number from this guide. Then share it with the friend who still argues from memory instead of facts.