Metropolis began the brand new calendar yr with a 0-0 draw at Sunderland’s Stadium of Mild.
Whereas the hosts, who stay unbeaten at residence this season, gave pretty much as good as they obtained within the first half, Metropolis cranked up the strain as the sport wore on however couldn’t discover a method past Robin Roefs.
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The end result means we prolong our unbeaten run within the Premier League to seven matches and now sit 4 factors behind leaders Arsenal on the midway level of the marketing campaign.
It additionally represents our first scoreless draw of the 2025/26 season throughout all competitions.
The headline for Metropolis followers would be the return of each Rodri and Jeremy Doku, who each featured after latest spells on the sidelines.
The sport in 250 phrases
Metropolis would have been forgiven for specializing in maintaining a buoyant Stadium of Mild crowd quiet early on however as a substitute he Blues as a substitute went straight on the assault.
Bernardo Silva thought he’d opened the scoring simply 5 minutes in when he touched residence a nook flicked on by Erling Haaland, however the captain was narrowly offside.
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The house facet grew into the sport from there however neither facet really appeared like beating the goalkeepers in entrance of them earlier than the break.
The beginning of the second half introduced with it an uplifting second for Metropolis followers all over the place as Rodri took to the pitch for the primary time since a quick substitute look in early November.
The Spaniard began a transfer barely a minute into his return that introduced our greatest probability but, however Savinho cleared the bar together with his try from Rayan Cherki’s low cross.
Because the hour mark handed, Roefs once more refused to yield when sub Josko Gvardiol ghosted into the field and glanced a header on track.
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Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden then got here even nearer, just for courageous defensive heads to dam their goalbound pictures.
Gvardiol, now spending extra time within the Sunderland field than his personal half, then in some way flicked a cross onto the surface of the publish from all of 12 yards.
Metropolis threw every part on the hosts within the closing levels however couldn’t power a winner in a typical 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 Charge, Mayenda, Adingra (Mundle 72), Brobbey (Isidor 58)
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Subs: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, Hjelde, H. Jones, O’Nien, Tutierov
Star man
Ruben Dias – The Portuguese central defender has lengthy been Pep Guardiola’s rock and his energy and composure on the again is crucial in video games like this.
One of many Premier League’s most bodily, energetic sides, Sunderland pushed onerous however Dias battled in opposition to the imposing figures of Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor from begin to end.
Strong.
Rodri’s return
In his first look since a minute-long cameo early in November, the Spaniard appeared really at residence within the coronary heart of midfield.
Chucked right into a frantic, pressurised ambiance, our 2024 Ballon d’Or winner confirmed his class a minute in with an incisive move that began maybe our greatest transfer of the night time, ending in a Savinho shot over the bar.
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He saved that composure all through, finishing 52 of his 58 passes – solely 4 gamers did extra.
His trademark passing capability performed a key function in Metropolis’s rising dominance all through the second half and followers all over the place might be excited to see extra of our No.16 as he continues on his path to full health.
“Powerful place to come back. The quantity of possibilities we missed within the six-yard field, not tough ones, we couldn’t convert. We didn’t do what we talked about within the first half however on the whole it was a very good recreation.
“To interrupt the strains, have the composure to interrupt them. It was higher second half, the blokes did every part. They’re a bit heads down however we have now to be heads up as a result of in three days we have now a tough recreation in opposition to Chelsea.
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“We created sufficient possibilities, we performed good second half. The dedication, the need, the primary half was completely different. We created sufficient – the 2 possibilities from Savinho within the second half, Jeremy [Doku], Josko [Gvardiol], Phil [Foden] and Erling [Haaland]. We had rather a lot however sadly we couldn’t do it.”
“Two completely different halves. I’d say within the first half we didn’t play that nicely, we didn’t management the counters in addition to we must always.
“We attacked a bit too fast, we didn’t transfer them to then discover the areas. Then second half we had numerous possibilities.
“Immediately was a kind of days we couldn’t end the possibilities. It’s nice, it’s a degree.
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“Clearly we’re not pleased as a result of we wished higher than this. It’s nonetheless an extended season.”
Metropolis are 4 factors behind Premier League leaders Arsenal on the midway level of the season.
We have now 41 factors from 19 matches and have now gone seven league matches unbeaten.
What’s subsequent
It’s a fast turnaround, with Metropolis welcoming Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium at 17:30 (UK) on Sunday 4 January.
That continues an enormous first month of the calendar yr, through which the Blues will play 9 occasions throughout 4 competitions.
Metropolis v Brighton tickets on normal sale
We welcome an entertaining Brighton facet to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.
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And with tickets now on normal sale, you may be there to see it!
Followers can now declare three tickets every, with adults from £30 and concessions as little as £15.
Or make it an evening to recollect with ranging from simply £180 per particular person and a variety of experiences out there to fit your price range.
Information about Sunderland v Man Metropolis
Full match replay: Sunderland v Metropolis
The complete recreation, from the primary kick to the final, by way of your CITY+ subscription.
We simply missed a of entirety – Pep
Pep Guardiola was happy with the efficiency of Metropolis within the 0-0 draw with Sunderland however bemoaned his facet not discovering the of entirety on the Stadium of Mild.
Rodri modified the sport, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola was stuffed with reward for Rodri after his second-half efficiency in our goalless draw at Sunderland.