EFL Cup 26/27, Round 3 · 16 Sep 2026

Manchester United 2–3 Brighton & Hove Albion

Picked for matchday: Two strong sides · Against the odds: the prediction gave this result 24% · Standout: Matheus Cunha scored 100.0

Expected and what happened

Before the match, from team ratings for Aug 2026; the outlined result is what happened.

Footybot made Manchester United favourites at 53%.

No xG was recorded for this match, so only the result can be read.

Best on the pitch by Footybot's score: Pascal Groß, 84.7 in 90′.

Well above their usual level: Charalampos Kostoulas +24.6, Pascal Groß +22.7, Pascal Struijk +12.4.

Well below it: Benjamin Šeško −19.7, Karl Darlow −16.2, Mason Mount −13.5.

Each side's last five results before this match.

13 Sep 2026	L 0–1	v Manchester City Premier League
10 Sep 2026	W 4–0	v Sabah FK Champions League
6 Sep 2026	D 2–2	at Everton Premier League
30 Aug 2026	W 5–2	v Ipswich Town Premier League
22 Aug 2026	L 0–2	at Hull City Premier League

13 Sep 2026	W 5–0	at Coventry City Premier League
5 Sep 2026	D 1–1	v Leeds United Premier League
30 Aug 2026	L 3–4	at Chelsea Premier League
27 Aug 2026	W 4–0	v Tromsø IL Conference League
23 Aug 2026	W 4–0	v Aston Villa Premier League

24 May 2026	Brighton & Hove Albion 0–3 Manchester United Premier League
25 Oct 2025	Manchester United 4–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League

Player	Min	G	A	xG	Score	vs usual
Bruno Fernandes Midfielder	17	0	0	–	100.0	–
Matheus Cunha Forward	10	0	0	–	100.0	–
Marcus Rashford Forward	80	0	0	–	65.8	+9.3
Bryan Mbeumo Forward	24	0	0	–	64.1	–
Kobbie Mainoo Midfielder	24	0	0	–	63.2	–
Andrey Santos Midfielder	66	0	0	–	60.4	+10.2
Youri Tielemans Midfielder	90	0	1	–	58.8	+3.1
Ayden Heaven Defender	90	0	0	–	53.9	+3.6
Leny Yoro Defender	90	0	0	–	51.6	−3.3
Noussair Mazraoui Defender	90	0	0	–	50.7	−6.0
Diogo Dalot Defender	90	0	0	–	43.6	−6.4
Shea Lacey Midfielder	66	1	0	–	39.5	–
Karl Darlow Goalkeeper	90	0	0	–	39.1	−16.2
Mason Mount Midfielder	73	1	0	–	37.3	−13.5
Benjamin Šeško Forward	66	0	0	–	35.6	−19.7
Joshua Zirkzee Forward	24	0	0	–	26.6	–

Player	Min	G	A	xG	Score	vs usual
Georginio Rutter Midfielder	8	0	0	–	100.0	–
Pascal Groß Midfielder	90	1	0	–	84.7	+22.7
Yasin Ayari Midfielder	16	0	0	–	82.3	–
Charalampos Kostoulas Forward	82	1	0	–	72.4	+24.6
Diego Gómez Midfielder	24	0	0	–	66.8	–
Pascal Struijk Defender	90	0	0	–	66.5	+12.4
Maxim De Cuyper Defender	24	1	0	–	65.0	–
Ferdi Kadıoğlu Defender	16	0	0	–	63.0	–
Jaouen Hadjam Defender	74	0	1	–	60.5	+3.8
Luka Vušković Defender	90	0	1	–	60.4	−9.8
Matt O'Riley Midfielder	66	0	0	–	54.1	+6.4
Malick Yalcouyé Midfielder	66	0	0	–	52.3	+3.0
Costinha Defender	90	0	0	–	51.9	−9.9
Olivier Boscagli Defender	74	0	0	–	48.2	−10.5
Chema Andrés Midfielder	90	0	0	–	47.5	−3.3
Jason Steele Goalkeeper	90	0	0	–	44.6	–