Manchester City vs Sunderland Stats: Head-to-head Record and Past Meetings

Manchester City host Sunderland at Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 20 September 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 UTC in the Premier League Regular Season - 5. The fixture brings together a Manchester City side that has started the 2026 campaign with four wins from four against a Sunderland team sitting in mid-table after a mixed opening.

With Manchester City currently 2nd in the Premier League on 12 points and a +6 goal difference, and Sunderland 14th with 4 points and a -2 goal difference, the stakes are clear: City are looking to maintain a perfect start and stay in the title conversation, while Sunderland aim to pull further away from the lower reaches of the table. In this context, Manchester City vs Sunderland stats and historical trends offer a useful guide to how this encounter might unfold.

Head-to-head record

The record shows a clear advantage for Manchester City in recent Premier League meetings with Sunderland.

• Previous meetings: 5
• Manchester City wins: 4
• Draws: 1
• Sunderland wins: 0

Manchester City vs Sunderland Timeline & Historical Context

Looking at the Manchester City vs Sunderland timeline in the Premier League, all five recorded meetings come from league play between 2016 and 2026. The most recent fixture was on 1 January 2026 in the Premier League Regular Season - 19 at Stadium of Light, where Sunderland and Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw. It was a rare occasion in this sequence where Sunderland managed to shut out City, with the score goalless both at half-time and full-time.

Before that, on 6 December 2025 in the Premier League Regular Season - 15 at Etihad Stadium, Manchester City asserted their dominance with a 3-0 home win over Sunderland. City led 2-0 at half-time and closed the match out 3-0, underlining the gap between the sides when City play at home. Earlier, on 5 March 2017 in the Premier League Regular Season - 27 at Stadium of Light, Sunderland again failed to score as Manchester City won 2-0, leading 1-0 at the break and doubling their advantage in the second half.

The sequence began in the 2015–2016 Premier League season. On 13 August 2016 in the Premier League Regular Season - 1 at Etihad Stadium, Manchester City opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Sunderland, having led 1-0 at half-time. Prior to that, on 2 February 2016 in the Premier League Regular Season - 24 at Stadium of Light, Manchester City recorded a 1-0 away victory, ahead 1-0 at half-time and maintaining that margin to full-time. Across this Manchester City vs Sunderland timeline, Sunderland have regularly struggled to break down City’s defence, while City have consistently found ways to edge or dominate the contests.

Manchester City vs Sunderland Head to Head Overall Breakdown

The head-to-head numbers underline Manchester City’s control of this fixture in the Premier League era covered by these matches.

Overall Record & Goals:

• Total Goals Scored: Manchester City 8 - 1 Sunderland
• Average Goals per Match: Manchester City 1.60 vs Sunderland 0.20

Venue Split Performance:

• At Etihad Stadium: 2 matches played here — Manchester City won 2 (as home side), Sunderland won 0 (as away side), 0 draws
• At Stadium of Light: 3 matches played here — Sunderland won 0 (as home side), Manchester City won 2 (as away side), 1 draw

Manchester City vs Sunderland Last Results: Past Direct Meetings

Here are the Manchester City vs Sunderland last results in recent competitive fixtures:

• 1 January 2026: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City (Half-time: 0-0) – Premier League Regular Season - 19
• 6 December 2025: Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland (Half-time: 2-0) – Premier League Regular Season - 15
• 5 March 2017: Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City (Half-time: 0-1) – Premier League Regular Season - 27
• 13 August 2016: Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland (Half-time: 1-0) – Premier League Regular Season - 1
• 2 February 2016: Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City (Half-time: 0-1) – Premier League Regular Season - 24

Recent Form: Last 5 Matches Breakdown

Last 5 Manchester City Matches Results and Stats

Manchester City’s recent form in the 2026 Premier League season to date has been outstanding. Across 4 league matches so far, they have a perfect record of 4 wins from 4, with 8 goals scored and only 2 conceded. At home, City have won both games, scoring 3 and conceding 1; away, they have also taken maximum points with 5 goals for and 1 against. The form line of WWWW highlights strong momentum, a reliable attack averaging 2.0 goals per match, and a defence allowing just 0.5 goals per game, supported by 2 clean sheets and no fixtures where they have failed to score.

• Recent Results Summary: Win 4, Draw 0, Lose 0 (season to date)

Last 5 Sunderland Matches Results and Stats

Sunderland’s Premier League 2026 campaign to date has been more uneven. Over 4 league matches, they have recorded 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats, scoring 3 goals and conceding 5. At home, Sunderland have 1 win and 1 loss with a tight 1-2 goal record, while away they have drawn 1 and lost 1, scoring 2 and conceding 3. Their form line of LWDL reflects inconsistency: a modest attacking output of 0.8 goals per match and a defence conceding 1.3 goals per game. They have managed 1 clean sheet but have also failed to score once, and their penalty record shows 2 taken, with 1 scored and 1 missed.

• Recent Results Summary: Win 1, Draw 1, Lose 2 (season to date)

Historical Statistical Verdict

Taken together, the historical head-to-head record and current-season form strongly favour Manchester City ahead of this Premier League meeting at Etihad Stadium. City lead the Manchester City vs Sunderland stats with 4 wins and 1 draw from 5 recent league encounters, an 8-1 aggregate goal difference, and a flawless home record in this run. Sunderland’s sole positive result in that sequence is the 0-0 home draw on 1 January 2026, while City have consistently controlled both territory and scorelines in the other fixtures. With City perfect in the 2026 league campaign so far and Sunderland still searching for stability, the trends point towards another match in which Manchester City are statistically more likely to dictate proceedings, both in possession and on the scoreboard, even if Sunderland’s recent draw shows they can occasionally frustrate their more illustrious opponents.

Manchester City vs Sunderland H2H Statistics updated on 14 September 2026.