Akanji was sent off due to two yellow cards, with his first yellow coming as a result of a cynical foul on Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma in the middle of the second half. As the game progressed and Ansu Fati scored a goal for the visitors in the 73rd minute, Man City was holding onto a narrow lead.
Akanji's second booking occurred deep into stoppage time when he brought down Fati during a counter-attack. Despite this setback, Pep Guardiola's team managed to secure a win at the Etihad Stadium and set two Premier League records. First-half goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland helped the reigning champions bounce back to winning form after two consecutive defeats before the international break.
While Akanji will be available to represent Man City in the Champions League group stage against Young Boys in his native Switzerland, he will miss a crucial Premier League fixture just four days later. The 28-year-old will not be able to participate in Man City's next top-flight match against Manchester United at the Etihad next Sunday.
Akanji was among the five players who returned to Man City's starting lineup for the match against Brighton. He played in a three-man defense alongside Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, with John Stones shifting into the midfield to partner with Rodri, who returned from a domestic ban. Akanji has become a regular in the starting lineup under Guardiola this season, making 12 appearances in all competitions and accumulating a total of 1,004 minutes, more than any other defender for the Citizens.
In previous encounters with Manchester United, Akanji has experienced a mixed record, winning three out of five matches against the Red Devils with Man City and his former club Basel. He played the full 90 minutes in both home and away Premier League matches against Erik ten Hag's side last season, with City winning an exciting contest at the Etihad 6-3 in October 2022 before losing 2-1 at Old Trafford three months later.
Fortunately for Guardiola, there are several defensive options at his disposal to cover for Akanji's absence in the upcoming match. Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, who started on the bench against Brighton, are contenders to return to the starting lineup. Additionally, Walker, Stones, and Gvardiol are all vying to retain their places in the team.
