The Premier League weekend got even more dramatic when Arsenal suffered a heartbreaking last-minute loss at Villa Park. Because of that result, Manchester City suddenly had a huge chance in front of them. If Pep Guardiola’s team could beat Sunderland, they would move to within just two points of Arsenal at the top of the table. It was the perfect opportunity, but only if they handled business on their home field at the Etihad Stadium.
Sunderland have been one of the big surprises of the 2025/26 season. Under coach Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have shown great teamwork, strong pressing, and brave attacking play. Many neutral fans have enjoyed watching them. But when you face Manchester City away from home, especially a City team chasing the title, things can get difficult very quickly.
To start the game, Guardiola made only one change to his starting line-up: Rayan Cherki replaced Tijjani Reijnders. Rayan Cherki, still only 22 years old, wasted no time getting involved. He took an early shot, showed sharp dribbling, and looked confident from the first whistle. Manchester City immediately pushed forward, and Sunderland were forced to defend very deep.
City Start Fast and Dominant
In the first 15 minutes, the match felt almost one-sided. Sunderland were trapped inside their own penalty area, barely able to clear the ball. A massive 40.6% of all action took place in Sunderland’s box, which shows how much pressure they were under. City also held 77% possession, which is extremely high even for them. In most professional soccer games, anything over 60% is considered dominant — so 77% is completely overwhelming.
Enzo Le Fée finally got Sunderland’s first attempt in the 16th minute, but it didn’t trouble City’s defense much. Phil Foden then took two more shots for City shortly after, showing how relentless the attack was. In soccer, momentum is everything, and City had all of it.
Rayan Cherki was especially lively. His creativity stood out on a cloudy Manchester day, and it didn’t take long for him to make a real impact. He assisted Rúben Dias, who smashed in an incredible long-range shot that the Sunderland goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, could do nothing about. When a center-back like Dias scores from distance, it usually means something special happened, and Rayan Cherki was the one who made it possible.
Gvardiol Doubles the Lead
Rayan Cherki’s assist was his fourth of the season, proving Guardiola was right to start him. That goal was also City’s 17th first-half goal of the Premier League season, more than any other team in England’s top division at that moment. City were not only winning; they were setting records and showing why they are considered one of the best teams in Europe.
Soon after, City scored again. This time it was Joško Gvardiol who leaped above everyone and headed in a perfect corner from Phil Foden. This goal extended a streak for Foden — he had now scored or assisted in four straight matches. That kind of form is important for a player aiming to be one of the best in the world.
Foden’s performance wasn’t just about goals and assists. He was extremely involved:
He had seven touches inside the Sunderland box, the second most on the team.
He took part in six one-on-one duels, showing great effort and energy.
Sunderland, meanwhile, were struggling badly. They had just 36.1% possession, one of their lowest marks of the entire season, and they didn’t register a single shot on target in the first half. When a team doesn’t test the goalkeeper even once, it usually means they are being completely dominated.
A Familiar Problem for Sunderland
Sunderland’s difficulty scoring in the first half has become a trend. In fact, only Nottingham Forest had more games without a first-half goal (11 games) than Sunderland’s 10 games this season. It’s a concerning pattern for coach Regis Le Bris.
The start of the second half didn’t change much. Manchester City opened with four shots in just two minutes, including a stunning attempt from Jérémy Doku, which bounced off the post. Doku was electric all afternoon, using his speed and dribbling to create constant problems for Sunderland’s defenders. Even though Sunderland tried to double-team him, he still completed 93.1% of his passes, which is an outstanding number for a winger who attempts difficult plays.
It had also been more than two years — since November 4, 2023 — since Doku created five chances in a single match, showing just how good he was in this one.
Rayan Cherki’s Amazing Rabona Assist
Manchester City played smart soccer, stretching the field wide to open spaces for players like Bernardo Silva and Nico González. With Sunderland forced to defend narrow, City used the width efficiently, creating passing lanes and chances.
Sunderland finally managed their first shot on target in the 52nd minute when Wilson Isidor tested City’s keeper. Granit Xhaka then hit the post shortly after, creating Sunderland’s only real moment of danger in the entire match.
Xhaka at least had a solid personal performance, showing his usual toughness and leadership. But he couldn’t change the outcome alone.
Soon, City made the match completely safe. Erling Haaland nearly scored with what was already his 57th shot of the season, the most of any player in the Premier League. Then came the highlight of the day:
Rayan Cherki pulled off an unbelievable rabona assist — crossing the ball by swinging his leg behind the other — and Phil Foden flew in to head it home for City’s third goal. Skill moves like this are rare even in pro football, and seeing it succeed in a Premier League match made it even more impressive.
Trai Hume: Sunderland’s Bright Spot
In the final minutes, neither team changed much despite substitutions. Sunderland’s day got even worse when Luke O’Nien received a red card for serious foul play in extra time.
Coach Le Bris will not be happy when he reviews the match video. Sunderland players lost the ball 23 times just between Nordi Mukiele and Enzo Le Fée. Against a team like Manchester City, losing possession that often is almost guaranteed to lead to goals.
Defender Trai Hume was one of the few Sunderland players who actually performed well. He:
Won 7 out of 9 duels,
Made 3 successful tackles,
And showed consistent effort all game.
But even strong individual performances can’t fix overwhelming team issues.
Sunderland had only seven touches inside City’s penalty area, compared to City’s 42 in Sunderland’s box. Their passing accuracy in the final third was just 58.2%, which made it nearly impossible to build attacks or keep the ball.
In the end, Manchester City were simply too strong, too fast, and too creative. With Rayan Cherki’s skill, Foden’s form, Doku’s speed, and Guardiola’s tactical plan, City cruised to a comfortable victory that keeps them very close to Arsenal in the title race. Sunderland fought hard, but they couldn’t stop the City machine.
This match will likely be remembered for Rayan Cherki’s brilliant performance — especially the rabona assist — and for City’s total control from start to finish. It also serves as another reminder of how powerful Manchester City are when they play at home.
