Manchester City kept their title charge firmly alive with a commanding 3–0 win over high-flying Sunderland at the Etihad, a result that takes them within just two points of league leaders Arsenal and restores belief after a turbulent midweek, Softfootball reports.
Pep Guardiola’s men were coming off a chaotic 4–5 thriller against Fulham, a match that left supporters joking that City were becoming a basketball team with goals flying in at both ends. But against Sunderland, the champions regained control, tightened defensively, and delivered a statement performance led by a sensational second-half spark from Rayan Cherki.
On the other side, Sunderland who have been one of the most impressive sides in the league this season came to Manchester with confidence and left disappointed but optimistic. While the scoreline stung, fans acknowledged that City’s class, depth, and tempo eventually proved too strong. Still, many believed their team showed enough quality and resilience to build on, even as frustration lingered over key moments and a late red card.
Manchester City Fans Celebrate Dominant Win and Cherki’s Magic
City supporters were thrilled with the overall control of the match, especially after the shaky Fulham performance. A number of fans pointed to one key shift , Cherki’s explosion in the second half, turning a quiet start into a masterclass.
@lordquas wrote:
Passive 1st half, this match changed when Cherki decided to grab it by the balls. He was meh in the 1st half then turned beast in the 2nd half, what sublime technique.
-Good Foden performance
-Happy to see a set piece goal
-ratings don’t do justice on how well Nico G played, Dias was good too defensively & offensively
-Happy Donnarumma got a clean sheet
-Doku was average today, had an off game, Haaland as well.
As Manchester City move within 3 points off the league leaders Arsenal after a comfortable win today, City via its official X handle, shared the players reactions as the head into the dressing room. They posted
For some fans, the victory represented more than three points, it was a declaration of intent. @vardotordovski praised the composure:
Huge win at the Etihad. Sunderland have been top-tier this season, but City’s quality and control showed in the big moments. Massive respect, bigger win.
Others had one eye on the title race. @thedude celebrated the narrowing gap to Arsenal:
WIN !!! Only 2 points away from Gunners. Gunners gonna fail this season again. Now ManCity has the momentum on his side. We are much better now.
Many supporters were simply happy to see a complete team performance and a clean sheet. @sportsfreaksameer said:
A solid display from the boys tonight and finally, a clean sheet. The attack looked sharp, the midfield controlled the tempo beautifully, and the defence stood firm throughout. Hopefully we keep building on this momentum and continue improving with each game. Come on City 💙.
Cherki, unsurprisingly, stole the spotlight. Fans could not stop praising the 20-year-old’s creativity and vision. @abdallahahmedtrki posted:
Well done boys. Fantastic performance. Only 2 points separate us from the table toppers — the journey is still long. Cherki the magician 🔥🤩💙🤍.
After the game, Manchester City via its official X handle, confirmed that midfielder Ryan Cherki was named player of the match for his incredible performance. They posted
@johnsongbemiro was even more poetic:
Cherki didn’t just make an assist — he painted a masterpiece on the pitch!⚡ That assist from Cherki was pure wizardry. Man’s cooking magic tonight!🎯 Only Cherki can see that pass. Vision + talent = world-class assist!💫 Rayan Cherki really turned the game into art.
He doubled down with another post soon after:
Cherki the creator! Man of the Match well deserved — that assist was pure magic! 🎩💫 That assist alone was art! Cherki running the show again — fully deserved Man of the Match.
Sunderland Fans Proud Despite Defeat: City Are the Best Team We’ve Played
Sunderland supporters accepted the defeat with dignity, praising their team’s attitude and admitting that they faced a world-class side operating at full power.
@alterego offered a calm reflection:
Not the result we hoped for, but a valuable test nonetheless. Sunderland can take plenty from this and keep building. Onwards and upwards.
Many pointed out that the match was closer than the 3–0 scoreline suggested. @benflicker wrote:
A decent game in which we played our part. A fortunate deflection, poor defending from a corner and a wonder goal. But we still had 2 great chances at 2–0. The best team we’ve played this season.
Spoiled by a needless sending off at the end, is there no common sense in football.
Speaking to the presss via the team’s official X handle Sunderland’s noah Sadiki reflected on the tough loss today and spoke on areas they can improve as a team and how to bounce back next weekend. Watch video below:
Another supporter, @marklundie, praised both effort and the opposition:
Tough game. However, easy to accept that loss. We just got outplayed by a quality side. We move on and focus on the derby now! Ha’way the lads!
@colinroberts echoed the pride despite the setback:
A bridge too far today after an incredible week but 4 points from the last three fixtures is fantastic. City was a free hit today but proud of the lads — they gave their all… rest, recover and prepare for what’s up next…
Some fans felt Sunderland deserved at least a goal for their effort. @marcusbell said:
We had good spells at the start of both halves, unlucky not to get a goal but their quality showed throughout and they scored very well-worked goals. Into those cunts next week HWTL 🔴⚪️ (Onien averages a red card every 10 minutes).
Also, After the game, the black cats boss regie le bris via the team’s official X handle, spoke to the media on the defeat against Manchester city. Watch video below:
For Manchester City, the victory signals a return to balance after the wild midweek shootout. With Cherki shining, the defence settling, and momentum building, the cityzens look like they ready to push Arsenal all the way. Guardiola’s men are finding rhythm at the perfect time and if Cherki continues performing at this level, City’s title charge may gather even more speed.
For Sunderland, despite the loss, this match reaffirmed how far they’ve risen this season. Competitive spells, big chances, and toughness against Europe’s most complete side give the Black Cats plenty to build on as they shift focus to next week’s crucial derby.
