Manchester City ripped the title race wide open with a ruthless victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium, firing a loud and clear warning to Arsenal only hours after the leaders had stumbled against Aston Villa. Pep Guardiola’s men knew the door had been left ajar and they barged straight through it with cold efficiency, cutting the gap to just two points and piling the pressure right back on the Gunners.
City took their time warming up against a Sunderland side who arrived determined to camp deep and survive. The visitors parked bodies everywhere and for half an hour it looked like the champions might have to dig deep for a breakthrough. Sunderland’s five man defence held shape and stood firm as City moved the ball from flank to flank searching for gaps that simply refused to appear.
Then in four frantic minutes the entire match flipped on its head. Sunderland invited Ruben Dias to wander forward. The Portugal defender accepted the invitation with glee and unleashed a piledriver from thirty yards that took a nick off Dan Ballard and screamed into the top corner. The stadium erupted. Sunderland deflated. City smelled blood.
Moments later Josko Gvardiol soared above everyone to meet Phil Foden’s wicked corner, guiding a bullet header into the far corner and sending Guardiola into fist pumping delight on the touchline. The champions marched into the interval with a commanding cushion and never looked remotely troubled from that point.
The second half became an exercise in control for City who pushed for more without ever losing their grip. Jeremy Doku clipped the post with a bending effort. Foden saw a sharp follow up bravely charged down. Erling Haaland almost forced one in but his hooked volley was scrambled off the line by Lutsharel Geertruida. The inevitable third arrived through the slickest move of the match. Rayan Cherki teased his marker before floating an exquisite cross for Foden who darted between defenders and nodded home.
Sunderland finally ventured forward as the match loosened. Enzo le Fee fired into the side netting before Wilson Isidor pounced on a rare Dias error only to be denied by a sharp stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Granit Xhaka then thundered a low shot that beat the keeper but clattered the post. Even when they created openings the visitors found no reward.
The night worsened for them in stoppage time when Luke O Nien lunged in recklessly on Matheus Nunes. Referee Andy Madley initially showed a yellow but after consulting the monitor he upgraded it to a deserved red. It summed up a miserable evening for Sunderland and a statement one for City who look hungry to pounce on any slip from Arsenal.