Can Man City prove their revival against formidable Brentford side?

Manchester City head into Tuesday’s clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, eager to prove that their recent upturn in form is not just a product of facing weaker opponents.

City have won two consecutive Premier League games — beating West Ham United and Leicester City — and delivered a stunning 8-0 demolition of Salford City in the FA Cup. While their performances have sparked optimism, the quality of their opponents so far leaves questions unanswered.

Pep Guardiola himself remains reserved about the extent of their revival. “We won two games in the league. Before, it was impossible to win one,” he said. “We’ve done quite well, but we still have to wait to see if we are who we are. The mood is better.”

Brentford will provide the sternest test of City’s resurgence yet. The Bees have been formidable at home, collecting 22 points at the Gtech Community Stadium this season — second only to Liverpool in the league.

Despite suffering back-to-back home defeats in the league, Thomas Frank’s side have shown they can dismantle teams, as evidenced by their 5-0 thrashing of Southampton in their last Premier League outing.

However, inconsistency has plagued Brentford recently. A shock 1-0 loss to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup exposed vulnerabilities, but Frank will see this as an opportunity to respond emphatically against the reigning champions.

Guardiola, meanwhile, faces deeper squad challenges. He admitted City’s defensive and midfield frailties have been persistent this season. “We’ve had problems in the back four all season,” he said. “That’s why the club is considering transfers.”

Still, Guardiola praised Frank’s tactical brilliance and the threat Brentford pose. “Tomorrow we have an enormously difficult game,” he stated. “Thomas Frank’s teams create a lot of problems. They are a fantastic, fantastic team.”

For Manchester City, this match is more than just another fixture. It is a litmus test to determine if their recent performances mark the beginning of a genuine revival or if their apparent resurgence is merely the result of favourable fixtures.

Against a well-organised and hungry Brentford side, City’s resolve will face its toughest challenge yet.