Key occasions
64 min Nice deal with in midfield from Onyeka as De Bruyne and Haaland threaten to romp into open grass.
63 min That is all getting very stop-start and one of many referee’s assistants provides to it as his Duracells run out and there’s a break in play as contemporary batteries are fitted.
62 min A change for Brentford as Norgaard comes on for Janelt.
61 min Henry has his first gallop down the left of the half however this one doesn’t have any finish product.
60 min Gundogan floats a dinked cross from the left … Haaland leaps … there’s an consumption of breath from the gang … however, concern not, Brentford followers, it loops over his head.
57 min Metropolis are instantly again on the assault and Cancelo’s roller is deflected simply vast for a nook though Raya in all probability had it coated. De Bruyne whips it in and there’s one other Metropolis participant down within the field. Penalty enchantment No. 57! Peter Bankes isn’t having it, neither are VAR, and the ref orders the nook to be taken once more. The ball finally drops to headband hero Laporte on the sting of the field however he mishits his volley method over the bar.
56 min Laporte is lastly totally patched up and he’s again on his ft. He fist bumps a member of the medical employees and appears okay to proceed. That was a seven-minute delay so tons so as to add on on the finish.
54 min Laporte remains to be on his again within the penalty space with the Metropolis medical staff round him. Haaland and Foden are providing phrases of consolation. He’s awake and chatting and eventually sits up. There’s a headscarf now being wound round which Laporte finds amusing.
51 min Fairly a prolonged break in play as Laporte continues to get remedy for a head wound. It’s a minimize however clearly there are concussion issues too.
50 min Bernardo in some way wins a header on the far put up which Brentford put behind for a nook. From the set-piece, Laporte goes down holding his head and it’s not fairly. Blood all over the place and he’ll want remedy. There’s an inevitable VAR test after the unintended elbow from Pinnock nevertheless it’s a no once more.
48 min Metropolis have Brentford pinned in their very own half within the early exchanges of this second interval. The hosts had a reasonably predictable 74% possession within the first half.
47 min A reminder that Arsenal are assured to be high at Christmas if Metropolis don’t win in the present day.
46 min Peep peep! Right here we go once more. Metropolis, through Erling Haaland, get the second 45 in play.
Half-time
Peep peep! A highly-entertaining first half on the Etihad with Brentford taking a shock however deserved lead earlier than Metropolis discovered a second of sophistication simply earlier than the interval. All to play for.
And a half-time learn for you:
45+3 min Metropolis push once more as they give the impression of being to fully flip the sport on its head earlier than the break. Brentford want the whistle to blow.
What a strike from Phil Foden! De Bruyne’s nook drops to the little scamp about 15 yards out and he drills an angled half-volley into the highest nook. Choose that out! 1-1.
GOAL! Man Metropolis 1-1 Brentford (Foden 45)
This isn’t occurring for Metropolis till… increase!!
42 min A few moments for Brentford on the Metropolis finish remind the hosts that this isn’t simply defence v assault. A wonderful cross from Ederson to De Bruyne launches a Metropolis ahead thrust however Foden’s cross is over Haaland’s bonce.
A theme is rising in your feedback. “If a Metropolis participant falls over, is it a topic for VAR evaluate?” asks Peter Lilley.
Stephen Carr provides: “I’m certain Man Metropolis Twitter will discover a approach to weave these VAR choices into their plucky outsider narrative and blame the established European footy elite. Or one thing.”
40 min Higher from Metropolis. De Bruyne bursts by the center and finds Foden. The England man cuts in from the left and thumps a shot goalwards which is overwhelmed away by Raya. I believe that’s Metropolis’s very first shot on track.
38 min A Metropolis nook is defended effectively by Brentford regardless of some now compulsory “handball” shouts from the gang because the hosts attempt to get a shot off and see it blocked by varied physique elements.
37 min Pep has a furrowed forehead. He’s gone for the “afternoon buying journey to the Trafford Centre” look in the present day and may need he’d spent it there if this continues to go the identical method. Then additional frustration for Metropolis as Haaland picks up a reserving for being too strong. A collective groan from fantasy managers.
34 min Brentford lastly get ahead to ease the strain however Metropolis win the ball again and instantly go on the assault. Cancelo’s cross is headed away by Mee and Henry smashes it additional to security.
32 min In any case that palaver, the clock has ticked on and Brentford will now be trying to see this out till half-time. Metropolis win a nook down the appropriate and there’s yet one more VAR enchantment after Gundogan’s shot hits an arm at very shut vary. Nah, not for me Clive and VAR’s test agrees. Apparently Laporte was additionally being grappled within the space, notes Lucy Ward on co-comms and that’s additionally below scrutiny. Is there a world document for VAR appeals in a 10-minute interval? This should absolutely be a contender.
30 min Pep and the Metropolis followers could really feel disgruntled to be 0-3 in VAR penalty appeals however all these choices seemed honest to be sincere.
29 min It’s all occurring now and Metropolis have one other double enchantment for a penalty after incidents involving Haaland and De Bruyne. Once more VAR has a glance however as soon as extra pc says no.
27 min No penalty. It’s certainly handball however there may be “no conclusive proof that it was contained in the field” is the phrase from VAR HQ
26 min Large shouts for a penalty as Bernardo will get to the byline and chips a ball onto the hand/arm of Henry. To be sincere, it seems exterior the field. VAR are taking a look.
25 min Metropolis have had 92% possession within the final 5 minutes says an on-screen stat. Foden slips in Gundogan however Brentford are masking each Metropolis transfer to this point and he’s blocked off.
23 min Rodri has a pop from 25 yards nevertheless it doesn’t bother the objective. Metropolis haven’t misplaced at house within the Premier League since Spurs beat them right here in February. Since then they’ve solely dropped 4 factors at house.
22 min Loads of time for Metropolis however this simply isn’t going to script. Haaland by no means will get many touches in a recreation and it’s been the identical right here. He usually scores a hat-trick regardless however the distinction right here is that Brentford have stopped him getting any pictures on track.