Overview
- Manchester City beat Brentford 2-0 at the Etihad, with Rayan Cherki blasting a first‑half opener and Savinho adding a heavily deflected second.
- Guardiola hailed Cherki as "exceptional" and likened the strike to finishes from Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, then criticized Cherki and Savinho for failing to track back in the second half.
- The draw set up a two‑leg semifinal against reigning champions Newcastle, extending City's six‑match winning run as Guardiola seeks a balanced rotation after a wholesale‑changes loss to Leverkusen last month.
- Erling Haaland was rested, Oscar Bobb departed with a knock that brought Foden on, and teenager Divine Mukasa started up front and nearly scored.
- Brentford argued Abdukodir Khusanov should have been sent off for a foul on Kevin Schade, but with no VAR the yellow card stood, as City manage injuries and AFCON absences during a packed schedule.