Title-chasing City look to crack Sunderland’s unbeaten home record | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will begin 2026 looking to bring an end to Sunderland’s unbeaten home record on New Year’s Day.

The Black Cats have been the surprise package of this campaign following their promotion last season. Regis Le Bris’ side were the pre-season favourites not only to go down, but to finish rock bottom on their return to the Premier League. However, that script has well and truly been ripped up.

Approaching the midway point of the season, Sunderland still sit seventh in the Premier League – just one point behind the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Their strong start is owed, in large part, to the fortress they have transformed the Stadium of Light into.

Sunderland remain unbeaten at home

Going into this week just two teams in the Premier League had not tasted defeat at home this season. The first is league leaders Arsenal; the other Sunderland. Five wins and four draws is sufficient form to make an established side envious and is seriously impressive from a newly promoted outfit. Their home form has not been caused by an easy fixture run either.

There are currently three teams out in front at the top of the Premier League table – Arsenal, City and Aston Villa. City are the only one of the trio who have not yet travelled to Wearside to take on Sunderland. Both Arsenal and Villa were forced to settle for a draw, unable to overcome the Black Cats on their stomping ground.

Guardiola’s men will travel to the north east keenly aware of the challenge that awaits them, but with ambitions of bringing Sunderland’s unbeaten home record to an end. The Blues may well be benefitted by the more fortuitous timing of their fixture.

Sunderland’s AFCON depletion

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is now in full swing, with many Premier League stars leaving their clubs short-handed as they represent their respective nations at the continental tournament. No side in the division has been hit more severely by the competition than Sunderland. The Black Cats’ AFCON absentees total six, double that of any other Premier League team.

The depletion of their squad may have already begun to hamper results. They are without a win since the start of the tournament. “The expectations during this period of AFCON are a bit balanced,” admitted Le Bris.

City are also missing players due to the tournament, with both Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri in Morocco. However, they have combined for just five league starts this season, which is incomparable to Sunderland’s absentees who have made a combined 52 league starts. With their hosts in a weakened state, City will certainly sense the opportunity to take all three points, especially with the fine form that they have found recently.

Six in a row for City

The title race has seemingly intensified in recent weeks. Villa won eight league matches in a row to  shoot up the table and into contention. City meanwhile have built a similar winning streak of their own. Guardiola’s side have won their last six in the Premier League.

This round of matches is sure to be a significant one in the title race too, as Arsenal host Villa. City will be guaranteed the opportunity to gain ground on either one or both of their fellow frontrunners. It is a moment that the Blues will be desperate to capitalize on, and anything but a seventh consecutive league win will be received as a disappointment.

History to repeat itself?

Sunderland have hurt City before in similar circumstances in the past. The Blues made the same trip to the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day back in 2012. At the time, mounting their first title challenge in a lifetime, City were dealt a devastating blow by the Black Cats, as Dong-won Ji scored the winning goal with the last kick of game.

Rival fans may well hope to see history repeat itself 14 years later to the day. Meanwhile, Guardiola’s side would much prefer a repeat of when the sides met less than a month ago. City welcomed Sunderland to the Etihad at the start of December and went on to win 3-0 in a relatively comfortable contest.

There is ample reason to suggest that the New Year’s Day meeting could go either way, and it is certainly an interesting clash to kick-off 2026 with.