In an all-Premier League tie, Manchester City will be up against Sunderland in the third round of this season's Capital One Cup.

Sunderland are yet to win a league fixture thus far, having played three matches in total - picking up one point from a possible nine. In stark contrast though, Manuel Pellegrini's men have steamrolled their way to the top of the table, with impressive displays along the way.

City's fast league start will give them confidence

No goals conceded, three consecutive clean sheets, and eight goals scored, the sky Blues are one of the league's firm favourites to challenge for the title itself. That being taken into account though, league form counts for nothing in cup competitions - and City of all sides will be weary of that fact.

Dick Advocaat and his men will be targeting the cup tournaments as a possible place to which they could excite fans, as well as improving squad morale ten-fold despite some rather lacklustre performances recently.

Sunderland could prove a tough test

Coincidentally, they managed to progress all the way to the final of the Capital One Cup in the 2013/14 campaign - but were comprehensively beaten by City at Wembley, for Pellegrini's first piece of silverware in the English top flight.

With the likes of Jeremain Lens, Yann M'Vila and Jermain Defoe all at their disposal, you'd be naïve to suggest City will have an easy fixture on their hands. On paper it may seem like a comfortable victory for the Citizens to seal, but stranger things have happened. Especially, when the opposition have nothing to lose.

Sunderland beat Exeter City 6-3 in the previous round to progress, and the encounter could be a welcome distraction from their disappointing league exploits.


The tie will be played on Tuesday the 22nd of September, with a kick-off time scheduled for 7.45pm UK time.

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Mosope Ominiyi
Writer and editor - European football analyst, youth enthusiast. Email: [email protected]