Thanks to a very pleasant draw (1-1) against Manchester City, already crowned champion of England, Brighton won the point on Wednesday which ensures them to play in the Europa League next season. With 62 points, the Seagulls will finish 6th in the Premier League standings this season since they can neither catch Liverpool (5th with 66 pts) nor be caught by Aston Villa (58 pts) on the 38th and last day. Taken in hand at the start of the season by Roberto de Zerbi after the departure of Graham Potter to Chelsea, the club from the south of England, admirably managed for years, will discover Europe for the first time in its history.
And this epilogue is very deserved, since it was necessary to end the series of twelve victories that City had just aligned to obtain this qualification. Pep Guardiola’s men are well aware that preparation for the FA Cup final (June 3) and then the Champions League final (a week later), to try to equal United’s treble in 1999, begins now.
It is enough to see the vice put by Erling Haaland to score the second goal of the Citizens, finally canceled for his shirt pulling on Levi Colwill, ten minutes from the end, to be convinced of it. Before that, the Norwegian striker had been very altruistic on the opener. Left in the back of the opposing defense and facing the goalkeeper, he had delayed to serve Phil Foden at the conclusion (0-1, 28th). But Brighton could very well have won a prestigious victory. Because after seeing the crossbar repel a free kick from Danny Welbeck (20th), Julio Enciso, only 19, sent a sublime floating shot into the top corner, from almost 25 meters, which mystified Stefan Ortega in the cages (1-1, 38th).
Enough to allow the two teams to leave satisfied and with a lot of emotion for the Argentine world champion Alexis Mac Allister, for his very likely last match at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, which he should leave in the off-season.