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.
The game in 250 words
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 typical Premier League battle.
Teams
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
Star man
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.
Rodri’s return
In his first appearance since a minute-long cameo early in November, the Spaniard looked truly at home in the heart of midfield.
Chucked into a frantic, pressurised atmosphere, our 2024 Ballon d’Or winner showed his class a minute in with an incisive pass that started perhaps our best move of the night, ending in a Savinho shot over the bar.
He kept that composure throughout, completing 52 of his 58 passes – only four players did more.
His trademark passing ability played a key role in City’s increasing dominance throughout the second half and fans everywhere will be excited to see more of our No.16 as he continues on his path to full fitness.
Pep reaction
“Tough place to come. The amount of chances we missed in the six-yard box, not difficult ones, we could not convert. We didn’t do what we talked about in the first half but in general it was a really good game.
“To break the lines, have the composure to break them. It was better second half, the guys did everything. They are a bit heads down but we have to be heads up because in three days we have a difficult game against Chelsea.
“We created enough chances, we played good second half. The commitment, the desire, the first half was different. We created enough - the two chances from Savinho in the second half, Jeremy [Doku], Josko [Gvardiol], Phil [Foden] and Erling [Haaland]. We had a lot but unfortunately we could not do it.”
Bernardo reaction
“Two different halves. I would say in the first half we didn’t play that well, we didn’t control the counters as well as we should.
“We attacked a bit too quick, we didn’t move them to then find the spaces. Then second half we had a lot of chances.
“Today was one of those days we could not finish the chances. It’s fine, it’s a point.
“Obviously we’re not happy because we wanted better than this. It’s still a long season.”
What it means
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.
| 1 |
|
Arsenal
Arsenal
|
19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 12 | 25 | 45 |
|
| 2 |
|
Manchester City
Man City
|
19 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 41 |
|
| 3 |
|
Aston Villa
Aston Villa
|
19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 39 |
|
What’s next
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.
City v Brighton tickets on general sale
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.
News about Sunderland v Man City
We just missed a finishing touch – Pep
Pep Guardiola was pleased with the performance of City in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland but bemoaned his side not finding the finishing touch at the Stadium of Light. Watch more
Rodri changed the game, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Rodri after his second-half performance in our goalless draw at Sunderland. Read more
