Manchester City yet again failed to ease fears of not playing Champions League football next season, after twice blowing the lead to draw 2-2 against Brighton, while third-placed Nottingham Forest thrashed Ipswich 4-2 on Saturday.
Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, scorers of two goals, had put City in front twice, but high-flying Brighton extended their unbeaten run to seven games thanks to Pervis Estupinan’s free-kick and an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal.
City’s early exit from Europe’s top competition to Real Madrid ensured at least a full week’s preparation for Guardiola’s men to bounce back from last weekend’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Forest. Marmoush was restored to the starting line-up and was deservedly City’s attacking outlet with his direct pace.
The Egyptian won the penalty from which Haaland opened the scoring with his 29th goal of the season.
City’s lead lasted only 10 minutes as Estupinan responded by curling in a free-kick in off the post past Stefan Ortega in the City goal.
Marmoush blasted City back in front from long range before half-time.
Brighton, though, took just three minutes into the second half to level the game again when Jack Hinshelwood’s shot was turned into his own net by Khusanov.
Later on, Nico Gonzalez hit the post as City pushed in vain for a winner. The point now leaves City still in fifth, just one point ahead of Brighton.
Elsewhere, Forest’s march towards Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 1980 continued with a dominant display away from home at Portman Road.
The visitors struck three times in six minutes to close down the gap to Arsenal to one point and six clear of City.
Nikola Milenkovic controlled a loose ball inside the area and blasted in on off the underside of the bar to open the floodgates.
Anthony Elanga then scored his first goal since Boxing Day at the end of a frightening Forest counter-attack.
Two minutes later Elanga took advantage of dreadful Ipswich defending to sprint clear and slot in his second of the afternoon.
Jens Cajuste and George Hirst scored late consolation goals for Kieran McKenna’s men either side of Jota Silva’s fourth for Forest.