Manchester City delivered a masterclass in attacking football at the Etihad Stadium, sweeping aside a resilient Sunderland side with a comprehensive 4-0 victory in the Premier League. The match, played on Saturday, 6 December 2025, was decisively shaped by the predatory instincts of Erling Haaland, who netted a superb hat-trick.
Haaland's Treble Breaks Black Cats' Resistance
The home side, managed by Pep Guardiola, dominated possession from the outset but found a well-organised Sunderland defence difficult to penetrate initially. The breakthrough finally came just after the half-hour mark. A flowing team move culminated in Phil Foden sliding a perfect pass into the path of Erling Haaland, who made no mistake with a first-time finish.
Sunderland, under the guidance of their manager, showed moments of promise on the counter-attack but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Their task became immeasurably harder just before half-time. Haaland doubled his tally in the 41st minute, rising highest to power a header into the net from a pinpoint Kevin De Bruyne cross, giving City a firm two-goal cushion at the interval.
Second-Half Flurry Seals the Points
Any hopes of a Sunderland comeback were extinguished early in the second half. The Norwegian striker completed his hat-trick just five minutes after the restart, demonstrating remarkable composure to round the goalkeeper and slot home after being put through one-on-one. The goal exemplified his world-class finishing ability and effectively ended the contest.
City continued to press, and the scoring was rounded off by substitute Julián Álvarez in the 74th minute. The Argentine forward, who had replaced Phil Foden, showed sharp reactions to turn in a rebound from close range after Rodri's powerful strike was parried by the Sunderland keeper.
The result was a stark reflection of the gulf in quality between the title-chasing Citizens and the newly-promoted Black Cats. While City's attacking stars shone, their defence, marshalled by Rúben Dias, recorded a comfortable clean sheet, limiting the visitors to only a handful of half-chances.
Implications for the Premier League Table
This emphatic win provides a significant boost to Manchester City's Premier League title ambitions, applying pressure on their rivals at the top of the table. The three points keep them firmly in the hunt as the season approaches its busy festive period.
For Sunderland, the defeat is a harsh lesson in the realities of the top flight. Despite a hard-working and disciplined performance for large parts, they were ultimately undone by the sheer firepower of one of the world's best teams. The focus for Mike Dodds's side will swiftly turn to picking up crucial points in their upcoming fixtures against teams in and around them in the league standings.
The individual brilliance of Erling Haaland, who now leads the Premier League scoring charts, was the defining narrative of an afternoon that showcased both the ruthless efficiency of the champions and the formidable challenge facing newly-promoted sides at venues like the Etihad.
