The last time these teams met in early December, Manchester City secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Etihad.

This Thursday, the context shifts as an in-form City side travels to face a Sunderland team that remains undefeated at the Stadium of Light this season.

It's a Premier League clash on Thursday, January 1, 2026, as Pep Guardiola's men look to maintain pressure on league leaders Arsenal, while Regis Le Bris's Sunderland aim to prove their top-seven place is no fluke.

 

📈Team Form📉

🏠🔴 Sunderland: Seventh in the Premier League with 28 points from 18 matches.

✈️🔵 Manchester City: Second in the Premier League table with 40 points.

 

📊Key Stats & Head-to-Head 📊

 

🔥 Manchester City are on a six-match Premier League winning streak.

🔥 Sunderland are unbeaten in nine league games at the Stadium of Light this season.

🔥 Man City have won their last seven Premier League matches against Sunderland.

🔥 City have won 19 of the 26 Premier League meetings between these sides.

 

🔬 What to Expect From Both Teams 🔥

 

🏠Sunderland | Form: W🟢D🟡L🔴W🟢D🟡D🟡

Defying all preseason expectations, Sunderland have been a tough team to break down, especially at home. They have already held Aston Villa and Arsenal to draws at the Stadium of Light.

Their challenge will be coping with significant absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations duty, which will test their squad depth against the reigning champions.

 

🌫️Manchester City | Form: W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢

City are in ominous form and have solidified their challenge on all fronts. A victory on Wearside could see them close the gap at the top of the table to just two points.

Pep Guardiola's side combines tactical astuteness with a clinical edge and will be confident of extending their winning run, despite acknowledging the tough test Sunderland presents.

 

👥 Predicted Lineups 👥

 

🏠Sunderland (possible):

Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra, Brobbey.

 

✈️Manchester City (possible):

Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland.

 

🔥 Matchups & Players to Watch 👀

 

✨ Erling Haaland — The league's top scorer aims to find the net on his first Premier League visit to the Stadium of Light.

✨ Rayan Cherki — The French playmaker is City's joint-leading assist provider and has been in outstanding creative form.

✨ Wilson Isidor — With three of his four league goals coming at home, he is Sunderland's most likely scoring threat.

✨ Granit Xhaka — His experience and set-piece delivery will be crucial for the Black Cats.

 

💵 Odds Market on MSport 💵

 

💵 Sunderland/Home to win = 7.79

💵 Manchester City/Away to win = 1.43

💵 Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.91

💵 Over 2.5 total goals = 1.66

 

This clash presents a battle of resilience versus momentum: a confident City side, with a superb winning run, faces a stubborn Sunderland team determined to protect its formidable home record.

With history heavily favouring the visitors but the hosts full of belief, the Stadium of Light is set for a compelling New Year's Day fixture.

Who do you think will take the points? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

 

🔗 You can follow the Sunderland vs Manchester City game here on MSport.

 

#Sunderland #ManCity #Manchester #City #EPL #PremierLeague #LeBris #Guardiola #StadiumOfLight #Haaland #Pep #Berando #Cherki #Foden #Xhaka

 

Defending champions Ivory Coast meet the traditional giants of Cameroon in a heavyweight Africa Cup of Nations Group F second matchday encounter.

Both teams have rich histories in African football, and their recent meetings suggest another closely fought battle is on the cards.

It's AFCON action on Sunday, December 28, as the Elephants face the Indomitable Lions.

With recent competitive head-to-head results pointing to tightly contested matches, this clash promises high stakes and intensity from the first whistle.

 

📈Team Form📉

 

🔹 Ivory Coast: The defending champions enter the tournament with pressure to defend their title.

🔸 Cameroon: The traditional giants aim for another strong campaign.

 

📊Key Stats & Head-to-Head 📊

 

🔥 The head-to-head record is exceptionally tight, with Ivory Coast managing four wins to Cameroon's three in their last eight meetings.

🔥 One game in their recent eight-match history ended in a draw.

🔥 In the most recent CAF World Cup qualifiers, both teams won their home fixture, with Cameroon winning 1-0 and Ivory Coast winning 2-1.

 

🔬 What to Expect From Both Teams👀

 

🇨🇮Ivory Coast | Pre-AFCON Form: 🟢🟢🟡🟢🟢🟢

As the defending champions, the Elephants will carry the weight of expectation into this crunch second game of Group F.

The team will have to navigate the early challenge without key striker Sebastien Haller, who is unavailable due to injury. In attack, they will look to the recalled experience of Wilfried Zaha and the flair of Amad Diallo.

Their recent competitive record against Cameroon is strong, with a head-to-head edge of a single victory. They will rely on their experience and H2H advantage to keep their title defence on track with a positive result.

 

🇨🇲Cameroon | Form: 🔴🟡🟢🔴🟢🟢

The Indomitable Lions arrive shrouded in controversy but with a revamped squad. Veteran stars like Vincent Aboubakar and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa are missing. In their place, a new generation led by Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba will be tasked with causing an upset.

Goalkeeper André Onana, initially omitted, received a late call-up and is expected to join the squad, potentially adding crucial experience. Knowing the historical closeness of this fixture, Cameroon will aim to be disciplined and turn their intense rivalry into a platform for a statement victory.

 

👥 Predicted Lineups 👥

 

🇨🇮 Ivory Coast (Possible 4-3-3):

Fofana, Aurier, Kossonou, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, Seri, Sangare, Zaha, Krasso, Diallo.

 

🇨🇲 Cameroon (Possible 4-3-3):

Onana, Tolo, Castelletto, Wooh, Tchamadeu, Baleba, Ndzie, Kemen, Mbeumo, Etta Eyong, Bassogog.

 

🔥 Matchups & Players to Watch 👀

 

✨ Wilfried Zaha — Recalled to the Ivory Coast squad after nearly two years, his experience and direct wing play will be vital for the champions.

✨ Amad Diallo — The Manchester United winger offers creativity and is one of the fresh faces in the Ivorian attack.

✨ Bryan Mbeumo — With the old guard absent, the Man United forward becomes the focal point of Cameroon's new-look attack.

✨ Carlos Baleba — The Brighton midfielder's energy in the engine room will be crucial for Cameroon in matching Ivory Coast's physicality.

 

💵 Odds Market on MSport 💵

 

💵 Ivory Coast to win = 2.26

💵 Cameroon to win = 3.39

💵 Draw = 3.21

💵 Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.64

 

This clash presents a classic battle of pedigree: the reigning champions against a Cameroon side in transition.

With their recent encounters almost impossible to separate and both teams fielding altered squads, fans are set for a compelling and tense African football night.

Who do you think will take the points? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

 

 

🔗 You can follow the Ivory Coast vs Cameroon game here on MSport.

 

#AFCON2025 #IvoryCoast #Cameroon #LesElephants #IndomitableLions #AFCON #CAF