2025/26 Premier League MW15 Man City vs. Sunderland Preview: Can the Citizens defend their fortress against the Black Cats? December 4, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

Manchester City faces Sunderland on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with kickoff set for 3:00 PM GMT at the Etihad Stadium. This Matchweek 15 showdown brings together two clubs firmly positioned in the Premier League's top six, adding extra significance to this early-December clash.

Matchup Overview

Manchester City welcomes Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium for Matchweek 15 of the 2025-26 Premier League season. City enters the fixture sitting 2nd in the table with 28 points, while Sunderland continues their impressive campaign in 6th place on 23 points. With both sides eager to solidify their top-half standing, this meeting carries substantial weight.

Current Standings and Form

Manchester City sits 2nd with 28 points from 14 matches, boasting 9 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses, with a +16 goal difference. Sunderland is close behind in 6th place with 23 points from 6 wins, 5 draws, and 3 defeats, holding a +4 goal difference.

City's recent form has been mixed, including losses to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and Newcastle United in domestic play. Sunderland has shown strong resilience, recently securing a 1-1 draw against Liverpool - their third unbeaten result against a “Big 6” opponent this season.

Manchester City vs. Sunderland Sports Bet Odds

The Citizens are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Citizens are favored by 2 points, with a full-time result of 1.25.
• The Black Cats are the underdogs by 2 points, with a full-time result of 10.00.
• Draw has a full-time result of 6.50.
• Total is set at 2.5 goals, with the Under at 2.62 and the Over at 1.50.

Head-to-Head History

Manchester City holds a historical advantage with 64 wins to Sunderland's 43 across all competitions. Their last five meetings reflect City's dominance:

• March 5, 2017: Sunderland 0–2 Manchester City (Premier League)
• August 13, 2016: Manchester City 2–1 Sunderland (Premier League)
• February 2, 2016: Sunderland 0–1 Manchester City (Premier League)
• December 26, 2015: Manchester City 4–1 Sunderland (Premier League)
• September 22, 2015: Sunderland 1–4 Manchester City (Carabao Cup)

Injury Report

Manchester City

• Rodri: Thigh injury; major doubt for December 6. Recovering from a prior hamstring issue.
• Mateo Kovacic: Out with ankle injury; no clear return date.
• John Stones: Thigh injury; potential May 3, 2025 return.
• Manuel Akanji: Recovering from groin/hip/pelvic surgery; expected back April 26, 2025.
• Oscar Bobb: Improving from ankle/foot issue; possible return on March 1, 2025.
• Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante: Knee injury; estimated return June 1, 2025.

Sunderland

• Aji Alese: Shoulder injury; expected early December 2025 return.
• Leo Hjelde: Achilles injury; no confirmed return date.
• H. Diarra: Groin issue; likely mid-December 2025 return.
• Radu Dragusin: Recovering from ACL surgery; expected back December 6, 2025.

Final Thought

With Manchester City battling to stay in the title hunt and Sunderland pushing to maintain their European ambitions, this fixture has all the makings of a competitive, high-stakes encounter. City's injury concerns and Sunderland's rising confidence could narrow the gap more than history suggests - setting the stage for a compelling Premier League showdown at the Etihad.

2025/26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Arsenal	10	3	1	33
2	Manchester City	9	1	4	28
3	Aston Villa	8	3	3	27
4	Chelsea	7	3	4	24
5	Crystal Palace	6	5	3	23
6	Sunderland	6	5	3	23
7	Brighton & Hove Albion	6	4	4	22
8	Liverpool	7	1	6	22
9	Manchester United	6	3	4	21
10	Everton	6	3	5	21
11	Tottenham Hotspur	5	4	5	19
12	Newcastle United	5	4	5	19
13	Brentford	6	1	7	19
14	Bournemouth	5	4	5	19
15	Fulham	5	2	7	17
16	Nottingham Forest	4	3	7	15
17	West Ham United	3	2	8	11
18	Leeds United	3	2	8	11
19	Burnley	3	1	9	10
20	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	2	12	2