City held to goalless draw at Sunderland to begin 2026

City started the new calendar year with a 0-0 draw of at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

While the hosts, who remain unbeaten at home this season, gave as good as they got in the first half, City cranked up the pressure as the game wore on but could not find a way beyond Robin Roefs.

The result means we extend our unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches and now sit four points behind leaders Arsenal at the halfway point of the campaign.

It also represents our first scoreless draw of the 2025/26 season across all competitions.

The headline for City fans will be the return of both Rodri and Jeremy Doku, who both featured after recent spells on the sidelines.

City would have been forgiven for focusing on keeping a buoyant Stadium of Light crowd quiet early on but instead he Blues instead went straight on the attack.

Bernardo Silva thought he’d opened the scoring just five minutes in when he touched home a corner flicked on by Erling Haaland , but the captain was narrowly offside.

The home side grew into the game from there but neither side truly looked like beating the goalkeepers in front of them before the break.

The start of the second half brought with it an uplifting moment for City fans everywhere as Rodri took to the pitch for the first time since a brief substitute appearance in early November.

The Spaniard started a move barely a minute into his return that brought our best chance yet, but Savinho cleared the bar with his attempt from Rayan Cherki’s low cross.

As the hour mark passed, Roefs again refused to yield when sub Josko Gvardiol ghosted into the box and glanced a header on target.

Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden then came even closer, only for brave defensive heads to block their goalbound shots.

Gvardiol, now spending more time in the Sunderland box than his own half, then somehow flicked a cross onto the outside of the post from all of 12 yards.

City threw everything at the hosts in the closing stages but couldn’t force a winner in a classic Premier League battle.

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly (Gvardiol 57), Nico (Rodri 46), Bernardo (C) (Reijnders 85), Savinho (Doku 51), Foden, Cherki, Haaland

Subs : Trafford, Khusanov, Mukasa, Lewis, R. Heskey

SUNDERLAND XI : Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka (C), Geertruida, Le Fee, Mayenda, Adingra (Mundle 72), Brobbey (Isidor 58)

Subs : Patterson, Neil, Rigg, Hjelde, H. Jones, O’Nien, Tutierov

Ruben Dias - The Portuguese central defender has long been Pep Guardiola’s rock and his strength and composure at the back is essential in games like this.

One of the Premier League’s most physical, energetic sides, Sunderland pushed hard but Dias battled against the imposing figures of Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor from start to finish.

Solid.

We’ll get the boss’ thoughts on tonight’s performance shortly...

A member of the squad will reflect on tonight’s game soon...

City are four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal at the halfway point of the season.

We have 41 points from 19 matches and have now gone seven league matches unbeaten.

View full table

Men's Team

Bumper January to come at the Etihad Stadium!

It’s a quick turnaround, with City welcoming Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium at 17:30 (UK) on Sunday 4 January.

That continues a huge first month of the calendar year, in which the Blues will play nine times across four competitions.

We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.

And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!

Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.

Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.

Kick off the new year in style!