Manchester City secured a dominant 3-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland, closing the gap to Arsenal at the top. Goals from Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol established an early lead at the Etihad.
Rayan Cherki delivered a sensational rabona assist for Phil Foden to net City’s third goal, highlighting a strong team performance. Two players notably achieved 8/10 ratings in the post-match assessments.
Man City Player Ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma: 6/10
The Italian custodian had a mixed evening, with his distribution from the back proving somewhat erratic and gifting possession needlessly to the opposition on occasion. However, when called upon to physically defend his net, he exhibited the necessary strength and concentration to ensure the clean sheet was preserved.
Matheus Nunes: 7/10
Nunes pushed forward effectively into attacking areas, showing good intent to link up on the right flank. His final pass or cross was, at times, overly heavy or misplaced. Despite this minor flaw in the final third, he delivered a solid and reliable performance from a defensive standpoint.
Rúben Dias: 7/10
The defender received applause for his long-range strike that opened the scoring—a powerful effort reminiscent of Vincent Kompany’s famous goal. This highlight was nearly overshadowed by a significant, poor pass that offered Sunderland a lifeline back into the match, showing a rare lapse in concentration.
Joško Gvardiol: 7/10
Gvardiol contributed directly to the scoreboard by expertly heading home a corner-kick for the team’s second goal. His night was marginally marred moments later, though, when he received a yellow card for a poorly timed and overly aggressive tackle in the middle of the pitch.
James O’Reilly: 7/10
The midfielder was generally impressive throughout the contest, demonstrating an appetite for the physical battles. He constantly sought out duels and engaged in relentless running across the park, proving to be an energetic and mostly effective presence in the engine room.
Nico González: 7/10
González showcased strong positional awareness, expertly anticipating play and making several key interventions. He cleared the ball crucially from the penalty area in the second half after a shot rebounded off the post, reading the patterns of Sunderland’s offense effectively.
Bernardo Silva: 7/10
Operating on the right wing, Silva demonstrated far greater control and composure compared to his previous performance against Fulham. He combined well with Matheus Nunes, helping to create numerical advantages and maintaining possession with his typical technical skill.
Phil Foden: 8/10
Foden continued his sensational form in front of goal by netting the team’s third goal with a powerful header. His contribution meant he was able to be withdrawn early, securing him a well-deserved rest ahead of the upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid.
Rayan Cherki 8/10
Cherki was the architect of brilliance, delivering a truly sensational assist for Foden’s goal using a rabona flick, having already tormented the visitors multiple times. While his first assist to Dias was less flashy, every contribution he made underlined his exceptional skill and creativity.
Jérémy Doku: 7/10
The winger’s involvement came in explosive flashes rather than a consistent flow throughout the game. Nonetheless, when he did engage, his pace and directness ensured he was a constant, unsettling threat to the Sunderland defense down the flank.
Erling Haaland: 6/10
Haaland found himself closely monitored and tightly marked by the opposition’s defense for most of the encounter. He managed to carve out a few half-chances during his time on the pitch, but the Norwegian was unable to convert them and make a significant impact on the scoreline.