Keeping up with the pack: Three crucial games in April that could decide Brighton’s European fate
With Brighton entering the international break sitting pretty in seventh, our hopes of finally securing European football are very much alive.
By the time the business end of the season arrives, though, the Seagulls face three tough matches against the so-called ‘Big Six’ which could decide our season.
Tottenham (A) – April 8
The first match comes against Tottenham, who were placed in fourth at the turn of the World Cup in Qatar. Leading man Harry Kane was on target the last time we met back in early October, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 defeat at the Amex.
The Spurs man couldn’t convert his second penalty for England, though, as the Three Lions crashed out to France in the quarter-finals, placing World Cup winner odds firmly in Les Blues’ favour at 11/10 to go onto glory in Qatar.
Before England’s premature exit, however, Kane had recorded two goals and three assists for Gareth Southgate’s side, as the forward continued his fine form from club level.
Kane has 13 goals and three assists in 22 matches across all competitions in 2022-23 and will be Tottenham’s main point of attack when they host the Seagulls on April 8.
Roberto De Zerbi will have to show he has since learned how to deal with Kane and the rest of the threatening Spurs frontline, as he leads us out in one of three challenging Premier League matchups.
HALF-TIME Brighton 0-1 Spurs
Harry Kane's eighth #PL goal of the season, a stooping glanced header, gives Spurs the lead at the break#BHATOT pic.twitter.com/KvzmSWJqRt
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 8, 2022
Chelsea (A) – April 15
The next match on the list certainly has a lot of sentiment behind it. Following Graham Potter’s departure for West London early in 2022-23, the rivalry between us and Chelsea has grown significantly.
Recent clashes with the Blues have been feisty affairs, the most recent example of which came in October when De Zerbi was able to get the better of his predecessor, and by some margin.
A complete performance from the Seagulls saw us enter a dominant 3-0 lead before the break. In-form Leandro Trossard – who has since been mooted for a move to Stamford Bridge – opened the scoring on five minutes, before a double of own goals made it three.
A consolation after the break from Chelsea was soon cancelled out by a 92nd-minute Pascal Gross strike, with the game ending 4-1 in a score line that flattered Potter’s new outfit.
The dominance reflected our superior position in the table over our London rivals, although we will need to produce another fine performance on April 15 if that ranking is to stay that way.
Leandro Trossard has scored against Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea this season.
Big game player pic.twitter.com/fEOfbBGAgS
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 29, 2022
Man City (H) – April 22
The last of April’s three crucial matches will undoubtedly be the hardest. Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City currently boast the league’s most prolific striker, which De Zerbi and co. found out the hard way back in mid-October.
City’s new number 9 bagged a quickfire brace before Kevin De Bruyne got in on the action with a second-half screamer, as a goal from Trossard just after the break was not enough to escape a 3-1 defeat.
History doesn’t appear to be on our side either, with City winning seven of the last eight league meetings between the two teams.
However, that one win – a memorable 3-2 victory back in May 2021 – did come on home soil, and it is the Amex where we will be welcoming the reigning champions on April 22.
Despite many of our best performances actually coming away from home, De Zerbi will need to inspire the home form that saw the 4-1 demolition of Chelsea and channel it to our match against City.
A win against England’s cream of the crop will likely be a huge boost to any potential European charge.
Kevin De Bruyne's goals vs Brighton & Leicester have been nominated for #PL Goal of the Month for October. pic.twitter.com/5xoT3ERb8y
— City HQ (@City_HQs) November 3, 2022
Despite singling out these three games, in particular, De Zerbi still faces a multitude of matches before April from which he will need several good performances.
With more time at the helm and some potential new recruits in January, there is nothing to say that the Seagulls can’t finally experience Europe in 2023-24.
