Premier League 2025/26: Man City’s title bid damaged by Sunderland stalemate

Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered a major setback when they were held to a 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Thursday.

Pep Guardiola’s team would have closed within two points of leader Arsenal if they won at the Stadium of Light.

But they produced a dazzling performance in the first game of 2026 to leave them four points behind the Gunners.

The New Year’s Day stalemate ruined the club’s eight-match winning streak in all competitions.

Following Arsenal’s 4-1 defeat to third-placed Aston Villa on Tuesday, second-placed City have relinquished the initiative midway through the title race.

City will look to return home against struggling Chelsea on Sunday after the Blues parted ways with boss Enzo Maresca on Thursday.

Guardiola was reportedly close to signing Bournemouth’s Ghanaian striker Antoine Semenyo. Guardiola could use reinforcements in attack after his team was frustrated by Sunderland’s tenacity.

City beat Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on December 6, but Guardiola predicted a much tougher match in the rematch, and his fears proved well-founded.

AS IT HAPPENED: SUN VS MCI HIGHLIGHTS

Sunderland are unbeaten in their first ten home games of the season and have held City and Arsenal level on points against Wearside.

On an ice-cold evening with a biting wind from the North Sea, City made a difficult attempt to close the gap on Arsenal.

A sixth-minute opener was denied when Bernardo Silva’s close-range strike was ruled out for offside after Erling Haaland had tapped in Rayan Cherki’s corner.

Brian Brobbey should have given Sunderland the lead after outsmarting Ruben Dias and racing into the penalty box, but his shot was too close to City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Haaland struggled to shake off Sunderland’s imposing central defender Nordi Mukiele in the first half.

The City striker eventually escaped Mukiele’s attention, but fired straight at Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs after Phil Foden’s pass found him ten yards from goal.

Sunderland’s Trai Hume squandered a golden opportunity when the unmarked defender headed over from twelve yards on the stroke of half-time.

City’s two attempts were the joint fewest in the first half of a league match this season.

Guardiola responded to City’s lethargy by bringing on Rodri for the injury-plagued Spanish midfielder’s first appearance since November 2, when he played one minute against Bournemouth.

Savinho was guilty of a sad miss when he fired wide of Cherki’s pass just after the break, and the Brazilian set up his lines again moments later but failed to beat Roefs from close range.

Guardiola took off Savinho after those blunders and sent off Belgian winger Jeremy Doku after four games with a calf injury.

City were forced to try their luck when Donnarumma saved Simon Adingra’s strike at his near post before making an even better stop to deny Eliezer Mayenda’s blast.

In a frenzied final, Josko Gvardiol was unable to squeeze his header past Roefs.

Gvardiol also sent a daring back-kick against the post and had a shot blocked from close range leaving the goal at his mercy, leaving Guardiola to count the cost of City’s toothless performance.

Published on January 2, 2026