Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has warned his players to prepare for another difficult encounter against Brighton and Hove Albion when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Saturday.
The warning follows Wednesday's Carabao Cup encounter at the Etihad Stadium, where City came from behind twice to draw 2-2 before winning 4-3 on penalties to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Brighton took the lead through Malick Yalcouye before Mateo Kovacic equalised for City with a long-range effort. Georginio Rutter restored Brighton's advantage shortly after the interval, but a deflected free-kick from Rayan Cherki brought City level again and forced the match into a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli proved decisive in the shootout, saving penalties from Brighton's Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to help City progress.
Despite the victory, Maresca acknowledged that Brighton had presented a serious challenge and praised their attacking approach. He said the visitors had been in excellent form, scoring regularly and maintaining an aggressive style against their opponents.
The City manager also noted that Brighton consistently press high and adopt a man-to-man approach, making them difficult to play against. He expects them to maintain the same intensity when the teams meet again in the league.
Both clubs made several changes for Wednesday's cup tie, and their upcoming Premier League meeting is expected to feature stronger starting line-ups as the sides turn their attention back to the league campaign.
Manchester City will be keen to secure a league victory after their recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, while Brighton will have an opportunity to respond following their narrow cup exit.
The Premier League encounter carries importance for both sides as they seek to maintain their positions near the top of the table. City have made a strong start under Maresca, while Brighton's attacking performances have established them as a challenging opponent.
Maresca said his team must be ready for another demanding contest, stressing that the objective remains to win games regardless of the competition.
With the previous meeting demonstrating how closely matched the teams can be, Saturday's encounter promises another test of City's defensive organisation and Brighton's ability to turn attacking pressure into goals.
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