Manchester City host Sunderland on 20 September 2026 in Gameweek 5 of the Premier League, with City sitting second on 12 points from four games while Sunderland are 14th on four, back in the top flight after promotion and juggling Europa League commitments at the same time. The two managers have no meaningful head to head history, so Le Bris is going into this largely blind on Maresca.
City arrive having beaten Manchester United 1-0 on 14 September with ten men for much of the match after Phil Foden's red card and all four of their league games this season have still ended in wins. Sunderland's results are more mixed, with a 1-0 Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar on 16 September sitting alongside a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal in early September.
City are without Foden (suspended after the United red card) and also missing John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, a substantial chunk of the first choice squad all at once and the first time Maresca has been forced into rotation across multiple positions simultaneously. He has won all five games across all competitions so far, though none under anything close to this kind of strain.
Sunderland are short of numbers too, missing Reinildo Mandava (suspended), Habib Diarra (hamstring) and Romaine Mundle (knee). Le Bris, in charge since June 2024, showed against AZ that his side can defend a lead and see a game out but Mandava's absence leaves the left side of the back four without its organiser and losing Mundle removes their main attacking outlet on that flank.
City's system under Maresca is possession heavy with a high press, typically in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Foden's suspension removes the most creative link between midfield and attack, though Haaland has done most of the scoring anyway with four goals in four league games. The absences of Stones and Rodri leave City more exposed to quick transitions than Maresca would normally accept.
Sunderland operate in a similar 4-2-3-1, with Xhaka sitting as the deepest midfielder and Le Fee operating further forward. Losing Mandava disrupts the left side of their back four, while Mundle's absence cuts off an attacking outlet that wasn't easy to replace. Haaland with four goals from four games against a centre back pairing that was not the first choice is the match's obvious pressure point. If Le Fee is being dragged deeper to cover for the absentees, the more interesting question is who fills the space Xhaka normally screens in front of the defence, because that is where City are likeliest to find room through the middle.
City's press should cause Sunderland real problems in build up, particularly with Le Fee operating below his natural position. Sunderland's 1-0 win over AZ showed they can be compact and defend a lead but they are attempting that here without three of their starting eleven and against a City side pressing far more aggressively than AZ did.
City are unbeaten across all 14 home Premier League meetings with Sunderland, winning 12 and Sunderland have not won any of their last nine plus top flight encounters against City.
Maresca has varied City's set piece delivery this season and Sunderland's ability to organise marking schemes without Mandava looks doubtful. City's win over United also demonstrated they can manage a match under pressure with a reduced squad, which is arguably the most relevant precedent for how Sunday plays out.
Manchester City 2-0 Sunderland. Haaland should find at least one opening against a depleted back four and with Sunderland's absentees leaving them short at set pieces and in transition, a controlled City win without conceding is the likeliest outcome.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
