Match Report & Player Ratings: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

A frustrating New Year’s Day encounter with Sunderland saw Manchester City held at the Stadium of Light as Arsenal’s advantage at the top of the Premier League table extended to four points. 

Despite a late onslaught from Pep Guardiola’s side, which saw Josko Gvardiol come agonisingly close on a number of occasions, the points were shared and Sunderland extended their unbeaten run at home to 10 games.

It was a game that appeared to be destined for City dominance, but soon changed in favour of Sunderland who gave Pep Guardiola’s side a glimpse of how difficult it has been for the likes of the league leaders Arsenal and third-placed Aston Villa to take points away from this ground. 

Bernardo Silva thought he had given the Citizens a lead inside six minutes when he guided Erling Haaland’s clever flick-on into the bottom right corner of Robin Roefs’ net but was caught offside – that decision being confirmed moments later through a VAR review. 

Still, with the aim of moving within two points of the Gunners, Manchester City brought confidence into this clash having won the last eight games across all competitions against Sunderland; the Black Cats haven’t won against the visitors in over 12 years.

Nevertheless, Regis Le Bris’s side grew motivated and soon found themselves on the front foot from a transition that began with Brian Brobbey shrugging Ruben Dias off the ball and finding himself with a clear shot at goal. However, from the right side of the box, Donnarumma managed to deny the forward with a strong left arm at the near post. 

In a short period of time, Sunderland’s pressure became unremitting as Eliezer Mayenda and Trai Hume threatened to break a very feeble deadlock, the latter nearly converted with his head three minutes into first-half stoppage time 26 minutes after dispatching high and wide from the edge of the box. 

Admittedly, there were more causes for concern than there was celebration for Guardiola which certainly weren’t helped by the injuries of Nathan Ake and Nico Gonzalez in the opening 27 minutes, though both managed to play on until the latter was substituted at the interval. 

Those issues persisted in the second period too as Savinho, City’s brightest spark on the night, was shown the exit with an imposing injury having tested goalkeeper Roefs just moments before going down behind the goal. 

Earlier, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki linked up well before the ball was sent across the face of goal to the Brazilian, whose straightforward task of tapping it into the net was overhit, exceeding the Sunderland crossbar to the frustration of some 3,100 supporters in the away end. 

Guardiola has done a virtuous job in tightening his side’s defence up in recent weeks but there were a multitude of occasions where Donnarumma was paramount in keeping the scoreline goalless. First, Simon Adingra forced the Italian into a stop before Mayenda, just two minutes later, submitted a left-footed shot that required the goalkeeper’s intervention. 

By all means, Sunderland deserved something from this clash given their irrepressible motivation and often unassailable momentum. But it wasn’t long until City woke up and applied the pressure. 

Rodri, who completed 90 minutes just twice in 2025, sent an early cross into the box where an unmarked Josko Gvardiol had a free header towards goal but guided it straight into Roefs. Regardless, the Black Cats ‘keeper could only palm the danger away. 

On 70 minutes, substitute Jeremy Doku weaved in and around the Sunderland box before striking towards the far corner and it could have gone in if it wasn’t for the heroics of Nordi Mukiele, who blocked the shot with his face. 

A scrappy ending saw Gvardiol have another strike blocked and, when Tijjani Reijnders struck with a matter of seconds left, the sighs of frustration from City’s corner will be felt as Arsenal keep a four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League table.

Here’s how we rated the players from Manchester City’s goalless draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. 

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 8 (POTM)

Made crucial saves to deny Brobbey, Mayenda and Adingra but was poor with the ball at his feet and long-range output cost his side possession on a number of occasions. Would have lost without him.  

Matheus Nunes – 5.5

A positive display from Nunes despite his weaknesses sometimes being exploited by Sunderland’s wide players. His crosses into the box remain a threat but the end product as a whole just wasn’t there. 

Ruben Dias – 6

Held the line well and provided the leadership needed once again in a hostile opening 45 minutes in the North East. He was outclassed in some areas but recovered from most battles. 

Nathan Ake – 6.5

Showed resilience to get up from the early knee injury and played an important part in snuffing out any danger from Sunderland in the opening half throughout a motivating period for the hosts. Kept the City defence tight during the hosts’ onslaught. 

Nico O’Reilly – 5.5

Was substituted early into the second period but moved the ball to his standard in the opening half. Gelled really well with Savinho down the left before Doku’s introduction, where he was replaced just six minutes following. 

Bernardo Silva – 6.5

Despite his age, he continues to run more than anyone on the pitch and never gives up the fight until the last minute. He provided plenty of importance throughout the 85 minutes but sat deeper than in previous outings.

Nico Gonzalez – 5.5

Like Ake, Gonzalez showed durability to recover from the knock picked up after a coming together with Brobbey in the 27th minute. Overall, it was an okay display from the midfielder, who could have admittedly done more in resisting Sunderland’s attack in the first period. He was replaced at the interval. 

Phil Foden – 6

Can sometimes let his emotions get the better of him and today felt like an example of that. On the ball, he played impressively but, largely down to Sunderland’s ability, Foden just couldn’t penetrate the home side’s defence.

Savinho – 7

Had a tendency to drift centrally but performed his best on the left in large parts of the match. He was electric with the ball at his feet and perhaps used the potential transfer of Antoine Semenyo as motivation here. It was much improved from his previous displays. 

Rayan Cherki – 7

Tracked back when needed and played a decent game. Could have done more from an offensive standpoint but his trickery in tight areas drew plenty of fouls which helped kill the momentum of the away side when required. 

Erling Haaland – 5

When he doesn’t score, it’s seen as a poor performance and understandably, he’ll be disappointed with how he played. His work on set-pieces at both ends was sufficient but other than that, he wasn’t of much use. 

Substitutes

Jeremy Doku – 6

Came close with 20 minutes left and had a great battle with Mukiele and Cirkin down the left. Taking his recent injury into consideration, there isn’t much more from an individual standpoint that he could have done off the bench.

Josko Gvardiol – 6.5

Injected some attacking hope into the side following Ake’s departure and could have scored twice; from an open header and a bizarre strike from a Nunes cross. A positive impact off the bench. 

Rodri – 6

Worked the ball well on the inside and looked fluid on and off the ball despite the endless amount of setbacks in the past calendar year. Delivered an inviting cross to Gvardiol just after the hour and shifted the ball adequately. 

Tijjani Reijnders – 5

Couldn’t have done much within the time he spent on the pitch, but helped mount the pressure on Sunderland in the final stages.