As Brighton and Hove Albion prepare to welcome Manchester United to the Amex Stadium, anticipation is high for another thrilling encounter between these two teams.
Over the years, Albion and United have produced some unforgettable matches, with each team having its share of triumphs.
From FA Cup drama to crucial Premier League clashes, these encounters have delivered a fiercely competitive, grudge-match edge and are always match-ups that deliver.
Since Albion's return to the top flight in 2017, the sides have met 14 times, with eight wins for United against Brighton's six.
Interestingly, there have been no draws in those seven Premier League seasons.
Here, VAVEL takes a look back at some of the most memorable meetings between the Seagulls and the Red Devils.
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Manchester United 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion, FA Cup Final, 21 May 1983
The 1983 FA Cup Final remains one of the most iconic moments in Brighton’s history. For many, it is still their greatest achievement as a club.
In their first - and to date, only - FA Cup Final appearance, the Seagulls faced a formidable Manchester United side at Wembley. Despite being underdogs, Brighton put up a valiant fight in a thrilling match that ended in a 2-2 draw.
Brighton took the lead through Gordon Smith, who calmly slotted the ball past United keeper Gary Bailey.
Frank Stapleton equalized for United, and Ray Wilkins put the Red Devils ahead with a superb curling effort. However, Brighton refused to give up, and with just three minutes remaining, Gary Stevens fired home to force extra time.
The match is famously remembered for Smith’s last-minute chance to win it for Brighton, only for Bailey to save his shot.
"And Smith must score!" became an unforgettable commentary line in Brighton folklore as the match ended in a draw, forcing a replay.
Just five days after the dramatic draw, Brighton and Manchester United returned to Wembley for the replay.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, they couldn’t replicate their heroic performance from the first match. United were in ruthless form, dismantling Brighton 4-0 to lift the FA Cup.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Manchester United, 4 May 2018
Brighton’s first season back in the Premier League after a 34-year absence culminated in a crucial victory over Manchester United at the Amex Stadium.
In the first time the sides had met since 1993, and with Premier League survival on the line, Chris Hughton’s Brighton side delivered a gutsy performance to secure a famous 1-0 win.
The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute, when Pascal Groß headed home from close range after José Izquierdo’s cross deflected into his path.
The German, went on to build a fantastic record against the Manchester club, with seven goals in as many Premier league appearances.
The first of these goals against United sent the Amex into delirium, as Brighton held on to claim all three points and confirm their top-flight status for another season.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 Manchester United, 19 August 2018
This a recent encounter that will be etched into Amex folklore. Brighton once again, stunned Manchester United with an early season 3-2 victory at the Amex Stadium in August 2023.
Building on their victory against United at the end of the previous season, this match was a testament to Brighton’s growth as a Premier League force, as they outplayed United in a thrilling contest.
The Seagulls came out flying, with Glenn Murray flicking in the opener with a sublime finish in the 25th minute.
Shane Duffy quickly doubled Brighton’s lead just two minutes later, capitalizing on poor United defending.
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for the visitors, but Brighton restored their two-goal cushion before halftime when Groß converted a penalty after being fouled by Eric Bailly.
Paul Pogba's late penalty for United made the scoreline closer, but Brighton’s resilience saw them hold on for a famous win.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 0-3 Manchester United, 30 June 2020
Though fairing well in general against United compared with other 'big six' clubs, it is not all smooth sailing for the Seagulls.
It never should be, either, against the Premier League's most decorated club.
This game was a humbling example for Brighton.
In a match played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manchester United produced a clinical display to defeat Brighton 3-0 at the Amex Stadium in June 2020.
The victory highlighted the growing influence of United’s new star, Bruno Fernandes, who played a pivotal role in securing all three points.
Mason Greenwood opened the scoring with a solo effort, driving into the box before firing past Maty Ryan.
Fernandes then doubled United’s lead with a well-placed shot from outside the box, following a neat exchange with Pogba.
The Portuguese playmaker capped off a stellar performance by finishing off a lightning-quick counter-attack in the second half, volleying home to make it 3-0.
This result was part of an unbeaten run that propelled Manchester United into Champions League contention.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Manchester United, 7 May 2022
In what was arguably one of the most dominant performances in Brighton’s Premier League history, the Seagulls thrashed the Manchester club 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in May 2022.
The result was a stunning display of Brighton’s stylish attacking prowess under manager Graham Potter and left United shell-shocked.
The result is an example of one of the performances of one of Albion's best ever performing teams, who managed a 9th place finish that season.
Moisés Caicedo set the tone with a powerful strike from outside the box to give Brighton an early lead.
Marc Cucurella, Groß, and Leandro Trossard all added goals as Brighton ran riot, completely outclassing their opponents.
The win was Brighton’s biggest-ever victory over Manchester United and a clear sign of their evolution as a club.
For United, it was a humbling defeat that highlighted the work needed to return to the top.
The encounters between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United have produced some incredible moments. As they prepare to face off once again, both sets of fans will be going in full of confidence.
The pair each won their first fixture of the season and will be looking to build on that when the sides come head to head once more this Saturday at 12:30pm BST.
