Aguero heartbreak, Cantona magic & Januzaj brilliance: Four greatest Sunderland vs Man United games

Manchester United and Sunderland will battle at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League later today.

The Black Cats spent several painful years away from the glamour and intensity of the English top flight, but their relentless fight eventually earned them a hard-fought return this season.

There is always drama when these two proud and historic clubs meet on the pitch.

Here we look at the four most thrilling contests between United and Sunderland.

Man United 5-0 Sunderland, December 1996

This was football from the golden Alex Ferguson era at its devastating best.

United ripped Sunderland apart with a breathtaking attacking display in a classic 4-4-2 setup.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Eric Cantona bagged a brace each, with Nicky Butt also adding his name on the scoresheet.

Cantona danced past three Sunderland players before exchanging a slick one-two and delicately chipping the ball over the goalkeeper.

The strike crashed against the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line in dramatic fashion.

What followed became one of the most iconic celebrations in Premier League history.

Cantona slowly turned in a full 360-degree circle with his collar raised before spreading his arms to absorb the deafening applause from Old Trafford.

Sunderland 1-2 Man United, October 2013

This clash is remembered as the night Adnan Januzaj announced himself to the football world.

United looked vulnerable after falling behind early at the Stadium of Light.

The Belgian wonderkid completely transformed the game with two sensational second-half goals on his first Premier League start.

Many fans and pundits even compared him to Cristiano Ronaldo because of his flair.

For a brief period, Old Trafford genuinely believed they had discovered their next global superstar.

Sadly, Januzaj never managed to fulfil that enormous potential.

Man United 0-1 Sunderland, May 2014

Sebastian Larsson scored the only goal of the game to register Sunderland’s first victory at Old Trafford in over 46 years.

Club legend Ryan Giggs had recently taken charge on an interim basis, but his promising start came crashing to a halt.

For the Black Cats, the victory proved absolutely massive in their dramatic fight for survival.

Sunderland 0-1 Man United, May 2012

This remains the most emotionally unforgettable clash between the two clubs.

The Red Devils won the game but lost the Premier League title in the final few seconds.

The famous “Aguerooooo” moment instantly shattered United hearts inside the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland supporters brutally mocked the devastated United players as news spread around the stadium.

The contrast between joy and heartbreak created one of the most dramatic scenes English football has ever witnessed.

United head coach Michael Carrick still remembers the pain and torture of losing the title in such cruel fashion.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .