Manchester City dey aim to continue their perfect start to season when dem face Sunderland for Sunday Premier League match. The Black Cats go visit Etihad Stadium after their first victory on continent in almost 50 years, after Enzo Le Fée penalty help dem edge past Eredivisie joint-leaders AZ Alkmaar for their opening Europa League outing of season.
Man City also play midweek, as dem defeat Porto for their first Champions League fixture ahead of Manchester derby. This time, Enzo Maresca side thump Norwich City 5-0 to advance into Carabao Cup fourth round. City don win all six of their games since Community Shield, including four for Premier League to keep pace with champions Arsenal. Dem currently look like most likely to compete with Gunners, who beat Sunderland 2-0 for Stadium of Light last weekend, for title, after dem successfully retool personnel for summer.
Rarely do Cityzens win as dem do last week. Phil Foden red card force Maresca men to retreat, but dem able to keep cross-city rivals at arm’s length on either side of Erling Haaland controversial winner. This don be excellent start to Maresca era, but the Italian believe toughest test of City season to date beckons. ‘I know how strong dem be, and I get feeling say on Sunday we need top performance to beat dem, and we need to be 100% to win game,’ the City boss talk.
Régis Le Bris dey celebrate him 100th game at helm, and victory for visitors here go rank as their most impressive since dem return to top flight for 2025. Prediction: Man City 2-0 Sunderland.
Maresca don talk say he dey hopeful Jérémy Doku go fit feature for first time since Community Shield on Sunday. The Belgian don spend more than one month on sidelines recovering from calf injury. Doku return mean City suddenly well-stocked for wide areas, but Phil Foden suspension mean we fit see another playmaker, Rayan Cherki, drift out to right flank. Enzo Fernández fit dey used for advanced midfield role, with Ayyoub Bouaddi ready to make him first Premier League start alongside Elliot Anderson. The Cityzens get clean bill of health entering extended international break, and Maresca go dey pray say him players return to Manchester for October unscathed.
Man City predicted lineup vs Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Bouaddi, Anderson; Cherki, Fernández, Semenyo; Haaland.
Sunderland make their Europa League bow on Wednesday, with new signing Malick Fofana starting down left flank. Fofana dey eased in at start of him career for Wearside, after him join club late for summer window. Ecuadorian international Nilson Angulo likely to come in for former Lyon starlet, while Brian Brobbey sure bet to replace Wilson Isidor up top. Defender Reinildo dey serve one-game suspension after him receive two yellow cards for defeat to Arsenal, so summer arrival Dayann Methalie fit deputise for left back on Sunday. The visitors certainly no get Romaine Mundle and Habib Diarra, with former unlikely to play again this calendar year due to knee injury. The knock Omar Alderete sustain against AZ mean he be doubt for trip to Manchester.
Sunderland predicted lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Methalie; Xhaka, Sadiki; Meunier, Le Fée, Angulo; Brobbey.
One number stand between Erling Haaland and perfect Premier League record. The Norwegian goal machine now get him sights on old-new victim whose net he never manage to shake. Haaland go into Manchester City eagerly awaited clash with Sunderland next Sunday carrying terrifying scoring record. According to football statistics network Squawka, he don net against 24 of 25 clubs wey him face for Premier League since him arrive England. Sunderland remain only side wey prove too tough for Norwegian striker. He fail to score against dem for two full matches last season, leaving dem as sole gap for him record.
Breaking this jinx look more favourable than ever. Squawka prediction indicators give Haaland 57% chance of scoring on Sunday, figure wey reflect terrifying form him dey enjoy at start of season. This personal challenge come at time when Manchester City dey enjoy strong start. The team sit second for Premier League table on 12 points from four rounds, level with leaders Arsenal but trailing on goal difference. Sunderland, meanwhile, go into encounter for fourteenth place with just 4 points, gathered from single win, draw and two defeats. Dem go try with all their might to preserve their status as only team for England yet to taste bitterness of Haaland goal.
