Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 at Etihad in Matchweek 5 on 20 September 2026
Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League Matchweek 5 fixture on 20 September 2026, the visitors producing an eight-goal contest. The result saw City secure all three points in a match notable for its end-to-end attacking play.
Both teams created and converted chances throughout the game, with Manchester City scoring five goals through Fernandez, Cherki, Semenyo and Haaland. Enzo Fernández recorded his first Manchester City goal from a disguised straight free kick taken on the narrow right edge of the 18-yard box, the shot finding the near post. Erling Haaland registered his first-ever goal against Sunderland during the contest. The victory extended City’s run under the new manager and left them as the only side in the league to have won every game so far.
Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick at the Etihad, netting in the 11th, 32nd and 59th minutes to pull his side back into the match on multiple occasions. Brobbey became the sixth Sunderland player to record a Premier League hat-trick and joined a group of five players who have achieved a Premier League triple for the Black Cats. His trio of goals kept the contest competitive and were central to what the report described as a nail-biting Matchweek 5 Premier League match.
City opened the scoring and Sunderland responded quickly on each occasion, with both sides showing clinical finishing as the game produced a total of seven goals. Manchester City maintained control across large parts of the match despite Sunderland’s repeated responses. The home team’s attacking depth produced multiple goal sources beyond a single standout performer.
Manchester City edged the game by a two-goal margin to clinch all three points, with the report describing the home side’s win as deserved. Sunderland’s goals ensured the match remained lively and closely contested until late on, but City held the advantage to secure the result. The game underlined the offensive strengths of both teams in this fixture.
The victory left Manchester City top of the Premier League table.
