City's shaky defence can't stop them beating Sunderland

Manchester City clinched a 5-3 victory over Sunderland on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, extending their Premier League start to five wins from five and keeping their unbeaten run alive after seven straight wins in all competitions.

Five wins to start the campaign

Enzo Maresca’s side has now recorded seven consecutive victories across every competition, a run that has fostered a palpable sense of positivity around the club. The win against Sunderland marked the fifth league triumph of the 2026-27 Premier League season, reinforcing City’s early dominance.

Defensive frailties exposed

All eleven City defenders endured a poor day, with the back four and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma struggling to cope with Sunderland’s attacks. Donnarumma missed two long balls in the second half, a symptom of the unsettled defensive display. Ruben Dias, the captain, was out‑muscled by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, who completed a hat‑trick and repeatedly held up the ball to unsettle the centre‑back.

Matheus Nunes was out of position at right‑back, while Josko Gvardiol, still adapting to a new role at left‑back, failed to provide the solidity expected after his seven games this season. Their collective lapses allowed Sunderland to press aggressively and create numerous chances.

Maresma happy despite the chaos

After the match, Enzo Maresca said, “To be honest, I prefer to win 1‑0 rather than 5‑3 but I expected a very difficult game.” He praised Sunderland’s aggression and highlighted Brobbey’s impact, adding that the team had learned valuable lessons from the “complicated” encounter.

Régis Le Bris’s Sunderland side, set up to challenge City, gave as good as they got, turning the fixture into an instant classic that epitomises the Premier League’s entertainment value. Despite the defensive shortcomings, City’s attacking firepower proved decisive, securing all three points.

The lessons from Sunday’s defensive woes are expected to inform City’s preparations when domestic football resumes in a few weeks, with Maresca confident the squad can tighten up at the back while maintaining their winning momentum.