If Joe Hart can put in another performance like he did against Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland will be in for a long and stressful match. Will Manchester City be able to keep their first clean sheet in the Premier League?
Bouncing back from a one goal draw at home against Borussia Dortmund won't be easy against Martin O'Neill's Black Cats.
Given the way Manchester City has played to date, no match is a given victory regardless if it is home or away. The current Premier League champions have not looked the same side that dazzled at times last season.
Without a clean sheet in the domestic league in six matches, Roberto Mancini will be wondering what he has to do to get his defense performing at a higher level.
City fans won't have the greatest of memories when Sunderland returns to the Etihad Stadium. Last season, Sunderland found themselves leading the Citizens 1-3 only to have that lead undone with just five minutes remaining in the match.
At the Stadium of Light on New Years Day, Sunderland snuck away with a controversial winner from Dong-Won Ji.
For Sunderland, five matches into the new campaign they find themselves in the 13th spot with seven points. One victory and four draws have the visitors looking to pull off an upset in Manchester. With City having so many problems keeping clean sheets, Martin O'Neill will be sure to have his players take it to the City back line.
Having been very much outplayed midweek, Manchester City will really need to come out and send a message on Saturday. Added pressure of needing to erase their Champions League performance along with only having two full days to recover could really spell trouble for Mancini's squad.
The Black Cats remain unbeaten thus far and they will be hoping to leave the Etihad Stadium with that same title.
Sunderland's new signing Steven Fletcher will be aiming to add to his goal scoring record as he currently has scored all of his side's goals in the Premier League. A total of five goals is an impressive stat for a player who just recently joined the squad from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A tired and confused Manchester City side could very well struggle to break down Sunderland. A 3-3 draw in this fixture last season will have the Sunderland players confident and motivated to grab another positive result.
Anything less than a victory for City will certainly start to raise some questions and concerns for Roberto Mancini. Can the Citizens bounce back from that hard fought, yet fortunate draw midweek?
Given the way Manchester City has played to date, no match is a given victory regardless if it is home or away. The current Premier League champions have not looked the same side that dazzled at times last season.
Without a clean sheet in the domestic league in six matches, Roberto Mancini will be wondering what he has to do to get his defense performing at a higher level.
City fans won't have the greatest of memories when Sunderland returns to the Etihad Stadium. Last season, Sunderland found themselves leading the Citizens 1-3 only to have that lead undone with just five minutes remaining in the match.
At the Stadium of Light on New Years Day, Sunderland snuck away with a controversial winner from Dong-Won Ji.
For Sunderland, five matches into the new campaign they find themselves in the 13th spot with seven points. One victory and four draws have the visitors looking to pull off an upset in Manchester. With City having so many problems keeping clean sheets, Martin O'Neill will be sure to have his players take it to the City back line.
Having been very much outplayed midweek, Manchester City will really need to come out and send a message on Saturday. Added pressure of needing to erase their Champions League performance along with only having two full days to recover could really spell trouble for Mancini's squad.
The Black Cats remain unbeaten thus far and they will be hoping to leave the Etihad Stadium with that same title.
Sunderland's new signing Steven Fletcher will be aiming to add to his goal scoring record as he currently has scored all of his side's goals in the Premier League. A total of five goals is an impressive stat for a player who just recently joined the squad from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A tired and confused Manchester City side could very well struggle to break down Sunderland. A 3-3 draw in this fixture last season will have the Sunderland players confident and motivated to grab another positive result.
Anything less than a victory for City will certainly start to raise some questions and concerns for Roberto Mancini. Can the Citizens bounce back from that hard fought, yet fortunate draw midweek?
