Man City vs Sunderland ended 3-0 as Foden, Dias and Gvardiol delivered a dominant win, pushing Manchester City within two points of the Premier League top spot.
Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a confident 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium, continuing their push toward the top of the table. The game delivered everything City fans hoped for—control, creativity, and another reminder of why Pep Guardiola’s side remains one of Europe’s most dangerous teams. This Man City vs Sunderland fixture had been anticipated as a straightforward test, and City handled it with complete composure.
The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute when Rúben Dias produced a stunning strike from outside the box, assisted by Rayan Cherki. The defender rarely scores from distance, but this one flew in with precision and power, putting City ahead with style. Just four minutes later, Joško Gvardiol doubled the advantage with a towering header from a Phil Foden corner, strengthening City’s grip on the game.
Sunderland struggled to settle and create meaningful chances, while City controlled the tempo effortlessly. The second half brought more pressure from Guardiola’s men, and it was Foden who sealed the result with the third goal in the 65th minute. Cherki, who had impressed all afternoon, delivered an outrageous rabona assist that left fans and pundits stunned. Foden finished calmly, scoring his fifth goal in three games and continuing his remarkable form.
Sunderland’s night went from difficult to worse when substitute Luke O’Nien was sent off just seven minutes after coming on, following a reckless high challenge. Down to ten men, there was little hope of a comeback.
The win stretches Manchester City’s dominance over Sunderland, adding an eighth straight victory in this fixture. Sunderland have not won away at the Etihad since January 1998, and this match showed the gap that still exists between the two sides.
With Arsenal dropping points earlier in the day, City’s win closes the Premier League title race significantly. Guardiola’s side now sit just two points behind the league leaders, and their momentum continues to build as the season progresses.
Sunderland will face City again on January 1, 2026, at the Stadium of Light, but Pep Guardiola will hope the reverse fixture carries just as much significance in what is shaping up to be a thrilling title chase.
Manchester City will take confidence from this performance—not only because of the goals scored but because of the resilience shown after recent defensive lapses. Dias and Gvardiol both contributed at both ends of the pitch, Foden delivered again with maturity, and Cherki’s creativity added a spark that lifted the entire attack.
For City, everything is moving in the right direction as they push for the top. For Sunderland, the challenge now is to regroup quickly and avoid slipping deeper into trouble.