Sunderland stalemate left the Guardiola’s facet 4 factors behind leaders Arsenal
Manchester Metropolis have been pressured to accept a draw at Sunderland. Photograph: AFP
SUNDERLAND:
Manchester Metropolis suffered a serious setback to their Premier League title problem as they have been held to a 0-0 draw in opposition to Sunderland on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola’s facet would have closed inside two factors of leaders Arsenal with a win on the Stadium of Gentle. However of their first recreation of 2026, they delivered a spluttering show that left them 4 factors adrift of the Gunners.
Metropolis’s New 12 months’s Day stalemate ruined their eight-match profitable run in all competitions.
After Arsenal’s 4-1 rout of third-placed Aston Villa on Tuesday, second-placed Metropolis have surrendered the initiative on the midway level of the title race.
Metropolis will look to bounce again at house to distressed Chelsea on Sunday after the Blues parted firm with boss Enzo Maresca on Thursday.
Reportedly on the verge of signing Bournemouth’s Ghana ahead Antoine Semenyo, Guardiola might do with reinforcements in assault after his workforce have been annoyed by Sunderland’s tenacious efficiency.
Manchester Metropolis beat Sunderland 3-0 on the Etihad Stadium on December 6, however Guardiola predicted a much more troublesome encounter within the rematch and his fears proved well-founded.
Sunderland are unbeaten of their first 10 house league video games this season and have held Metropolis and Arsenal to attracts on Wearside.
On a freezing night with a biting wind whipping off the North Sea, Metropolis made heavy climate of their try to shut the hole on Arsenal.
They have been denied a sixth-minute opener when Bernardo Silva’s close-range strike was dominated offside after Erling Haaland flicked on Rayan Cherki’s nook.
Brian Brobbey ought to have given Sunderland the lead after out-muscling Ruben Dias and racing into the penalty, however his shot was too near Metropolis keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Haaland discovered it troublesome to shake off Sunderland’s imposing centre-back Nordi Mukiele within the first half.
The Metropolis striker lastly escaped Mukiele’s attentions, solely to shoot straight at Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs after Phil Foden’s cross discovered him 10 yards from aim.
Sunderland’s Trai Hume squandered a golden alternative when the unmarked defender headed over from 12 yards on the stroke of half-time.
Metropolis’s two makes an attempt have been their joint-fewest within the first half of a league recreation this season.
Guardiola responded to Metropolis’s lethargy by sending on Rodri for the injury-plagued Spain midfielder’s first look since November 2, when he performed for one minute in opposition to Bournemouth.
Savinho was responsible of a woeful miss when he fired extensive from Cherki’s cross simply after the interval, and the Brazilian fluffed his traces once more moments later, failing to beat Roefs from shut vary.
Pep Guardiola hauled off Savinho after these blunders, sending on Belgian winger Jeremy Doku after 4 video games out with a calf harm.
Manchester Metropolis needed to trip their luck as Donnarumma saved Simon Adingra’s strike at his close to publish earlier than making a good higher cease to repel Eliezer Mayenda’s blast.
In a frantic finale, Josko Gvardiol couldn’t squeeze his header previous Roefs.
Gvardiol additionally despatched an audacious back-flick in opposition to the publish and had a close-range shot blocked with the aim at his mercy, leaving Guardiola to rely the price of their toothless show.
