Man City return to Premier League action against Sunderland at the Etihad this afternoon looking to make it five league wins from five under Enzo Maresca.
City have won six successive games in all competitions, the latest Thursday’s 5-0 Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City when Maresca made 10 changes.
Most of those rested should return for today’s 2pm kick-off, but Sunderland arrive with at least one recent reminder that they can make life difficult for City.
Man City v Sunderland all-time head-to-head
City and Sunderland have met 147 times in competitive football, with City winning 71 and Sunderland 50. The other 26 meetings have finished level.
Overall record:
- Man City wins: 71
- Sunderland wins: 50
- Draws: 26
- Goals: Man City 257-209 Sunderland
Sunderland enjoyed some particularly good days against City in the early 2010s, winning four successive Premier League home meetings 1-0 between 2010 and 2013.
City eventually broke that sequence emphatically, winning 4-1 at the Stadium of Light in December 2014, with Sergio Aguero scoring twice.
Recent Man City v Sunderland results
The balance has shifted heavily towards City since then.
The last 10 meetings before today have produced eight City wins, one Sunderland win and one draw. Sunderland’s only victory in that sequence was the 1-0 Premier League win at the Stadium of Light in November 2013.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Premier League | Sunderland 0-0 Man City |
| 6 December 2025 | Premier League | Man City 3-0 Sunderland |
| 5 March 2017 | Premier League | Sunderland 0-2 Man City |
| 13 August 2016 | Premier League | Man City 2-1 Sunderland |
| 2 February 2016 | Premier League | Sunderland 0-1 Man City |
| 26 December 2015 | Premier League | Man City 4-1 Sunderland |
| 22 September 2015 | League Cup | Sunderland 1-4 Man City |
| 1 January 2015 | Premier League | Man City 3-2 Sunderland |
| 3 December 2014 | Premier League | Sunderland 1-4 Man City |
| 16 April 2014 | Premier League | Man City 2-2 Sunderland |
Sunderland’s long wait for an away league win at Man City
Sunderland have never won a Premier League match away to City.
Before today’s game, their 13 Premier League visits have produced 11 defeats and two draws. Their last top-flight league victory away to City came at Maine Road in December 1981.
Last season’s Etihad meeting followed the modern pattern. City won 3-0 in December, with Ruben Dias opening the scoring before Josko Gvardiol quickly added a second.
Phil Foden completed the scoring after the break from Rayan Cherki’s rabona cross.
January draw gives Sunderland encouragement
The return game at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day finished 0-0.
City created chances, with Erling Haaland denied by Robin Roefs and Gvardiol going close twice, but Sunderland held firm to take a point. It was City’s first goalless draw of the 2025/26 season.
Maresca has already described Sunderland as potentially City’s toughest opponents of the season so far, having watched them closely during the build-up.
Robert Jones will referee the game, with the full appointments available in our Man City v Sunderland match officials guide.
City also beat Sunderland at Wembley
There is one other relatively recent meeting worth revisiting. City beat Sunderland 3-1 in the 2014 League Cup final at Wembley after Fabio Borini had given the Black Cats an early lead.
Yaya Toure produced the memorable equaliser before Samir Nasri put City ahead shortly afterwards and Jesus Navas completed the victory late on. It gave City their first League Cup triumph for 38 years.
City have had the better of this fixture almost ever since.
They go into this afternoon with six consecutive victories in all competitions, while Sunderland have not won a league game away to City since 1981. January’s goalless draw at the Stadium of Light is a reminder that the recent record does not necessarily make this afternoon straightforward.
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