Man City vs Sunderland returns to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night as the champions look to bounce back from recent inconsistencies, while newly competitive Sunderland aim to cause one of the biggest upsets of the season. With cool 10°C Manchester weather and a packed Etihad, this clash promises intensity, possession dominance from City, and brave transitions from Sunderland.
Despite a shaky run—including unexpected defeats—City remain overwhelming favourites, largely due to Erling Haaland’s incredible scoring form (15 goals in 14 matches). Sunderland, meanwhile, have shown promising resilience but lack firepower in front of goal.
Match Overview – Man City vs Sunderland
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Manchester City vs Sunderland |
| Competition | Premier League 2025/26 |
| Date & Kick-Off | Saturday, December 06, 2025 – 20:30 |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
| Capacity | 55,097 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Weather | 10°C – Cool and Dry |
Manchester City enter this match without Rodri and Mateo Kovacic—major blows to midfield control. Sunderland are also missing key defensive pieces such as Aji Alese and Leo Hjelde.
Still, the overall quality, depth, and home advantage lean heavily toward the defending champions.
Recent Form Guide – Man City vs Sunderland
Manchester City – Last 5 Matches
City’s form is unusually unstable: strong attacking moments but defensive lapses and surprising defeats.
| Match | Result | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs Fulham | Win | 5–4 | Win |
| vs Leeds United (02/12) | Loss | 2–3 | Loss |
| vs Bayer Leverkusen (29/11) | Loss | 0–2 | Loss |
| vs Newcastle (25/11) | Loss | 1–2 | Loss |
| vs Liverpool (22/11) | Win | 3–0 | Win |
Sunderland – Last 5 Matches
Sunderland show grit and work rate but lack consistent goal production.
| Match | Result | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs Liverpool | Draw | 1–1 | Draw |
| vs Bournemouth (03/12) | Win | 3–2 | Win |
| vs Fulham (29/11) | Loss | 0–1 | Loss |
| vs Arsenal (22/11) | Draw | 2–2 | Draw |
| vs Everton (08/11) | Draw | 1–1 | Draw |
Head-to-Head – Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Match | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Mar 2017 | Sunderland vs Man City | 0–2 | Man City |
| 13 Aug 2016 | Man City vs Sunderland | 2–1 | Man City |
| 02 Feb 2016 | Sunderland vs Man City | 0–1 | Man City |
| 26 Dec 2015 | Man City vs Sunderland | 4–1 | Man City |
| 01 Jan 2015 | Man City vs Sunderland | 3–2 | Man City |
Head-to-Head Summary:
- Man City Wins: 5
- Sunderland Wins: 0
- Draws: 0
City have completely dominated Sunderland for over a decade.
Key Players to Watch
Manchester City – Erling Haaland
15 Goals • 3 Assists • 14 Matches
Haaland remains the most dangerous striker in Europe. His physicality and timing make him a constant threat, especially against Sunderland’s unsettled backline.
Sunderland – Wilson Isidor
4 Goals • 14 Matches
Isidor works tirelessly in the final third, but opportunities will be limited against City’s defensive structure. His pace is Sunderland’s best chance for a counterattacking goal.
Predicted Lineups – Man City vs Sunderland
Manchester City (4-3-3)
Gianluigi Donnarumma –
Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly –
Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, Bernardo Silva –
Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
Robin Roefs –
Nordi Mukiele, Daniel Ballard, Omar Alderete, Reinildo –
Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki –
Bertrand Traoré, Enzo Le Fée, Chemsdine Talbi –
Wilson Isidor
Unavailable Players – Man City vs Sunderland
| Team | Unavailable Players | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | Mateo Kovacic, Rodri | Injuries |
| Sunderland | Ajibola Alese, Leo Hjelde, Habib Diarra | Injuries |
Statistical Projection – Man City vs Sunderland
| Metric | Man City | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | ~70% | ~30% |
| Shots on Target | 7–10 | 2–4 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.4–2.9 | 0.6–0.9 |
| Clean Sheet Probability | 54% | 13% |
| Corners | 7–9 | 2–3 |
| Big Chances | 4–6 | 1–2 |
| Goal Probability | 88% | 47% |
| Most Likely Scorer | Erling Haaland (48%) | Wilson Isidor (22%) |
City are expected to dominate every metric except transitions.
Prediction Summary – Man City vs Sunderland
Why Man City Should Win
- World-class attack led by Haaland, Foden, and Doku
- Superior midfield creativity despite injuries
- Stronger squad depth and home advantage
- Sunderland struggle to defend wide channels
Why Sunderland Could Trouble City
- Xhaka’s leadership and ball-winning
- Quick counterattacks through Traoré and Isidor
- City’s recent defensive lapses
Still, the gulf in quality is too large to overlook.
Final Score Prediction: Man City 3–1 Sunderland
Likely Scorers:
- Erling Haaland (Man City)
- Phil Foden (Man City)
- Jérémy Doku (Man City)
- Wilson Isidor (Sunderland)
Confidence Levels:
- 🔵 Man City Win – 72%
- 🟡 Draw – 18%
- 🔺 Sunderland Win – 10%
Read more:-
Betting Tips – Man City vs Sunderland
- Anytime Scorer: Erling Haaland
- Match Result: Manchester City Win
- Both Teams to Score: Yes
- Total Goals: Over 2.5
- Correct Score (High Value): 3–1 City
FAQs – Man City vs Sunderland
1.When is the match?
Saturday, December 06, 2025 at 20:30 (Etihad Stadium).
2.Which team is in better form?
Manchester City, due to stronger scoring output.
3.Who are the top scorers entering this match?
Erling Haaland (Man City) – 15 goals
Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) – 4 goals
4.What is the predicted scoreline?
Manchester City 3–1 Sunderland
5.What kind of match should we expect?
City dominance, high possession, and Sunderland trying to counterattack quickly.