Manchester
City couldn’t find a way past Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on
New Year’s Day, with Régis Le Bris’ side putting in a resolute
defensive display to earn a point.
Manchester
City could only gain a point on Premier League leaders Arsenal
as Sunderland
frustrated Pep Guardiola’s side in a goalless draw in the Premier
League at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day.
Despite a series of chances in the second half, City couldn’t
find a way past Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs and find
themselves four points off the Gunners at the top of the table as
we reach the halfway point of the 2025-26 season.
City thought they’d taken an early lead through Bernardo Silva,
but the Portuguese midfielder saw the assistant referee’s flag
raised as he wheeled off to celebrate. Upon review, it was deemed
that Silva was indeed offside, but only by inches after a flick-on
before striking past Robin Roefs.
In what was a quiet first half where both teams managed just one
shot on target apiece, Sunderland’s best chance fell to Brian
Brobbey on 19 minutes, but his strike was saved by Gianluigi
Donnarumma.
City’s only shot on target in the half came in the 37th minute
and fell to Erling Haaland who should have done better when he
received the ball around the penalty spot, but his tame attempt
went straight at Roefs. It was Haaland’s best chance of the game,
but he once again failed to score versus Sunderland in the Premier
League – the only opponent out of 24 faced in the competition that
he’d yet to find the net against.
Just over a minute into the second half, Savinho had the best
chance of the game, but failed to convert. With just one goal in
his previous 43 Premier League appearances for City, the forward
fired the ball over the bar after Rayan Cherki had played the ball
across the six-yard box.
Two minutes later, he had another great chance, this time
created by himself after a strong run with the ball, before firing
at the legs of Roefs. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he injured
himself in the process and had to be replaced by Jérémy Doku just
seven minutes into the second half.
At the other end of the pitch, a brilliant pass from Enzo Le Fée
opened up an opportunity for Eliezer Mayenda in the 54th minute,
but after working his way into the box, he saw his low strike
comfortably saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Roefs made another fantastic save on 64 minutes, when Josko
Gvardiol escaped his marker to seemingly head the ball into the net
and give the away side the lead, but the Dutch goalkeeper
remarkably kept the scores at 0-0, reacting quickly to divert the
ball over the bar. Six minutes later, Omar Alderete put his body on
the line to block a Doku strike after the substitute had weaved his
way into the box.
Despite holding most of the possession, City couldn’t find a way
through a stubborn Sunderland defence, and their six-game Premier
League winning streak came to an end.
With this draw, it means that Sunderland have become just the
second newly promoted team to go unbeaten in their opening 10 home
games of a season and the Black Cats find themselves seventh at the
halfway point of the campaign, just four points off the top four.
The surprise package of 2025-26 so far, Régis Le Bris head into the
second half of the season looking to impress even further.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Sunderland vs
Manchester City stats from their Premier League meeting at the
Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day 2026.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected
goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives
you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats
on the game as well.
Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City Post-Match
Facts
- Sunderland are just the second promoted team to remain unbeaten
in their first 10 home games in a Premier League campaign, after
Ipswich Town in 1992-93 (first 11). - Manchester City’s 2.25 xG was their highest in a Premier League
game in which they failed to score since March 2022 (2.92 vs
Crystal Palace). - Man City’s Erling Haaland has failed to score in either game
against Sunderland this season. They’re the only side he’s faced
but not scored against in the Premier League, netting against all
other 23 sides. - Only Martin Dúbravka (69) has made more saves than Sunderland’s
Robin Roefs (67) in the Premier League this season, with the
Dutchman making a further four tonight.
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