As Manchester City prepares to face Sunderland, both teams will look to capitalize on their current form. This match will mark the first meeting between the two sides since March 2017, when Manchester City claimed a 2-0 victory.
Manchester City’s Dominance Over Sunderland
Historically, Sunderland has struggled to find success away at Manchester City. The Black Cats have faced City 13 times in the Premier League without a win, recording 2 draws and 11 losses. Their last away victory at City was in December 1981, at Maine Road.
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City remains unbeaten against Sunderland in league matches, with a record of 9 wins and 2 draws across 11 encounters. Only two teams, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, have played more matches at the Etihad without securing a victory.
Current Form and Statistics
- Manchester City has won 11 of their last 12 home matches in the Premier League.
- They have recorded six consecutive home wins in the league.
- City has not lost to newly promoted teams in their last 26 league games, with 24 wins and 2 draws.
- This season, City has outscored their opponents by a margin of 10-3 in three Saturday matches starting at 3 PM.
However, the City defense has shown vulnerability, conceding eight goals in their last three Premier League fixtures, matching the total from their previous 12 matches combined. Their recent 5-4 triumph over Fulham was particularly notable, as it marked the first time since December 1957 that City won a league match while allowing four goals or more.
Sunderland’s Resilience
This season, Sunderland has proven their ability to rally from behind, securing 12 points from losing positions. This is on par with Aston Villa and marks one of their stronger seasons in this regard, only behind their performances in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 campaigns.
Players to watch include Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. Haaland scored 2 goals against Sunderland earlier in his career and has recently made headlines as the only Manchester City player to net 2 or more goals in three straight league games since September 2024. Meanwhile, Foden has seen a resurgence, netting four goals in his last two appearances after a prolonged scoring drought.
Conclusion
As the two teams gear up for this match, Manchester City’s historical edge and current form position them as strong contenders. However, Sunderland’s ability to fight back could add intrigue to this Premier League encounter.
