Sunderland's unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League continues after Manchester City were held to a draw
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka was one the standout performers for Sunderland in their draw with Man City.
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Granit Xhaka's performance against Manchester City was one of the best by a Sunderland captain at the Stadium of Light as the Black Cats continued their unbeaten run on home soil in the Premier League.
The result means the Wearsiders have drawn with Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa, with all three teams tipped as genuine title contenders earlier this week. And Sunderland could have had more in all three games, but specifically tonight.
Brian Brobbey went close with the best chance of the first half for Sunderland, latching onto Nordi Mukiele's long ball forward, holding off Ruben Dias, and leaving the City defender in a heap on the floor before powering a shot towards Gianluigi Donnarumma, who turned the ball behind for a corner.
At the other end, it was Erling Haaland who looked the most likely to score for the visitors. Fortunately for Sunderland he could only fire straight at Robin Roefs from eight yards out after some good play from Phil Foden down City's right.
With the score level at half-time, you would have expected Guardiola's men to come out firing at the start of the second 45, and they did with two quick chances in quick succession for Savinho. However, it was Sunderland who looked the most likely team to score, with Eliezer Mayenda having the best chance of the second half for the hosts.
There were several last-ditch challenges from Sunderland players to ensure they'd maintain their unbeaten run at home heading into 2026.
Here are some of the moments you might have missed from Sunderland's defeat to Man City.
Eliezer Mayenda's chance to impress
It's been an interesting couple of months for Eliezer Mayenda. He started the season as Le Bris' go-to striker, but hasn't started a game for Sunderland since the 2-1 win over Brentford way back in August.
Since then, he has played just 60 minutes of football across four appearances and has been an unused substitute in nine of those games. There has been some speculation suggesting the Spanish youth international would be given an opportunity to leave the club on loan, but tonight, he was given a chance from the off against Pep Guardiola's side.
He replaced Chris Rigg in the starting XI and was tasked with operating up front with Brian Brobbey in a 4-4-2, before shifting out to the right-hand side of the attack. It was a bold approach from Le Bris, and Mayenda did look a threat with his first foray forward, but he didn't have too many opportunities - as you might expect.
He had to do most of his work in his own half towards the end of the game, but managed to survive the full 90 minutes and play a key role in alleviating pressure near the death. A top display.
Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda in the draw with Man City.
Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda in the draw with Manchester City
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Le Bris goes toe-to-toe with Guardiola
City looked like a team destined to have their name on the Premier League trophy at the midway stage of the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium and were frightening at times. However, Le Bris has clearly learned from that defeat, and the first-half performance at the Stadium of Light was as clear a sign as any that he's one of the brightest minds in the Premier League.
Very few - if any- newly promoted sides would look to press City as fiercely as Sunderland did during the visitors' build-up phases, but the Wearsiders did just that. It was a ploy that worked so well in the draw with Arsenal earlier this season and Le Bris' side knew the exact moments when to press and when to drop into a mid and then low-block.
Omar Alderete was tasked with following Rayan Cherki deep into City's own half as Guardiola's side looked to play out from the back, going man-for-man, which left Sunderland a little short at the back. The Black Cats needed to be switched on, with both Lutsharel Geertruida and Nordi Mukiele picking the perfect time to step in and put pressure on Erling Haaland.
Although the latter had one or two nervy moments, challenging for the same ball as his centre-back partner Nordi Mukiele, they did keep the visitors quiet in the first half and limit them to just one shot on target.
Guardiola's side have already shown on occasions this season that they're not afraid to pump the ball long and get Haaland in a foot race with his opposite number. Had they done that in the first half, they might have posed Sunderland a greater threat throughout the game.
Brilliant Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka was by far and away the best player on the pitch tonight, and that spoke volumes with City introducing Balon d'Or winner Rodri as a substitute in the second half.
The Black Cats captain is unquestionably the signing of the season and has taken Sunderland to a completely different level. He was almost faultless tonight and showed his class throughout.
With Man City pushing for a winner, piling bodies forward for a corner, the ball popped up into the air after the first contact, and Xhaka deftly headed the ball into safety to allow Roefs to go and gather.
It wasn't a pass that even looked on, and yet, he pulled it off. Less than 30 seconds later, he was picking the ball inside Sunderland's half and then spraying a through ball for Wilson Isidor to run onto, racing forward to support the forward after the pass.
A minute later, with Sunderland defending another corner, the Black Cats looked to counter through Eliezer Mayenda, who was fouled on the break.
Sunderland fans let out a huge roar, and their captain coolly walked over to the Sunderland forward to applaud him and hauled him to his feet. It was a brilliant gesture that not only showed his class, but also his ability to manage on the pitch.
He is such a class act, and it's a transfer that we'll look back on in years to come and question how Sunderland were ever able to pull it off. Enjoy it. Relish in it.