**It may have been the start to a new year, but Sunderland picked up where they left off at the Stadium of Light, maintaining their unbeaten home record in a goalless draw on a frustrating evening for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.**
City appeared to have got off to the dream start in the sixth minute as Bernardo Silva poked home Erling Haaland’s glancing header following a corner. The Portuguese wheeled away in celebration, though the visitors’ jubilation was soon cut short by the linesman’s flag.
A subsequent VAR check confirmed the offside decision, with the hosts surviving the early City dominance by mere inches.
The opening period saw the visitors settle into their characteristic control of possession, with it becoming apparent that the Black Cats’ best chance would be to hurt Guardiola’s side on the counter-attack.
Sunderland had no choice but to sit back and soak up the pressure imposed upon them by a City side who seemed in no mood to let the hostile atmosphere in the north east affect their performance in any manner.
Yet few teams have been successful in doing so at the Stadium of Light this season. Brian Brobbey’s chance in the 19th minute, which saw the Dutchman hold off Rúben Dias before being denied by an impressive stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma, lit a fire under the some 50,000 Mackems inside the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats had picked their moment to pounce on the visitors, and had almost executed their chance perfectly, had Donnarumma not spared City‘s blushes.
The remaining minutes of the first half saw Sunderland continue to grow into the game, with City becoming noticeably unnerved by the hostile atmosphere within the Stadium of Light. Indeed, it would not have been remiss in moments to assume the hosts as the seasoned title contenders and the visitors as the Premier League newcomers.
The Black Cats almost got their rewards for a spirited display in the third minute of added time, but to Donnarumma’s relief, Trai Hume’s header drifted inches over the crossbar.
If Sunderland’s golden chance to open the scoring came moments before the break, then City’s arrived moments after. Rayan Cherki’s low, driven cross was met by Savinho in the six-yard box who somehow managed to sky his effort over the crossbar. This would become one of the Brazilian’s final actions of the affair, as he was subsequently forced off with a knock minutes later.
Chances fell to either side to win the game throughout the second period, but the deadlock remained unbroken and the referee’s final whistle confirmed Sunderland’s unbeaten home record would carry into 2026.
While Pep Guardiola may take some consolation from the fact his side are the only team yet to concede at the Stadium of Light this season, he will no doubt see this as a missed opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.