Negredo - who's been quiet compared to Wednesday - replaced by Gareth Barry

75min Nastajic was the player, stretchered off looking in serious bother. Has the pitch claimed another victim? City will be furious, best young defender in the league arguably last season. Replaced by Lescott

McClean replaces Giaccherrini for Sunderland

72min Sunderland convinced they should have had a penalty after Giaccherini tackled in the box. Huge roars from crowd, but nothing doing. A Man City player who I can't see is down injured in some pain

70min Couple of wee sniffs for Sunderland, Moberg Karlsson showing a nice touch and winning a corner. Dzeko then fizzes a ball across Sunderland's goal, but no-one there. Navas with a decent shot blocked. Wee bit livelier now

65min MISSED PENALTY El-Hadji Ba handles in the box, and Dzeko steps up to take it. Balloons it somewhere into the North Stand, or beyond, and immediately looks accusingly at the spot. Not suggesting this pitch is anything less than pristine surely?

And Yaya Toure comes off - to great cheers - for Fernandinho. Kolarov on for Clichy

60min David Moberg Karlsson on for Adam Johnson, who has been anonymous

57min Negredo eats mud, quite literally, after a strong challenge leaves him face down in the centre circle. Luckily he's helped up before he drowns

53min. Jesus Navas looking quality on his debut for City. Of all their summer signings, I think he could be the best, if he adapts to life outside Spain. Still no clear chances here

50min Sunderland looking a bit livelier. Sessegnon the likely danger man. Haven't been impressed with Altidore, wonder if he'll fare any better in his second spell in the Premier League. Samir Nasir getting booed every time he touches the ball again. Can anyone tell me why? I don't like him either, but it seems a bit harsh.

Teams back on to the mudbath. Rain seemed to get even heavier at half-time, if that's possible. Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri on for City, Ba, Westwood, Wickham on for Sunderland. Off: Milner and Silva; Altidore, Mannone, Cabral

HALFTIME Manchester City 1 Sunderland 0. City almost double their lead right on the whistle, a wicked Silva free-kick from the right headed against his own post by Craig Gardner. Looked like he clonked his head off the other post too.

Not much else to report from final 15 minutes. Rain coming down for most of it. Manuel Pellegrini looking like 'Why are we here?' in the dugout. 

For all Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, may deny it, I think the league will be thinking very hard about whether they want to come back to Hong Kong again. Especially with all the negative reaction in Britain. 

Not that the inept HK government will care, but had they pulled their finger out years ago and built the Sports Hub, this global embarrassment for the city could have been avoided.

37min City being booed for playing keep-ball. Fans want to be entertained dammit! Umbrellas are out in the North and South Stands as the rain comes down yet again. Meanwhile, Giaccherini gets a shot on target for Sunderland, their first of the match, if I recall correctly. Easy save for Pantilimon

29min Much knocking it about in the middle, City happy to try to keep possession despite the state of the pitch. Silva tries to set up compatriot Negredo with dink over the top but offside given. Then Dzeko tries his luck again from 20 yards, a decent effort Mannone holds. Dzeko looks hungry, Negredo keen for first City goal, fires over from 10 yards

25min Giaccherini almost creates a chance for Sessegnon, but ball a bit behind him and he can't get it under.

22min Not much in the way of clear chances here. Sunderland fans in South Stand making some good noise. Paolo gives em a wave. 

Agree with Roy Allen?

Meanwhile, Manchester United have cancelled planned open training session because of state of the pitch

Belatedly, here's the teams: Looks like 4-4-2 for City, Silva with freedom to roam, 4-4-1-1 for Sunderland. Rain absolutely bucketing down again

Man City: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Milner, Garcia, Toure Silva; Negredo, Dzeko

Sunderland: Mannone; Colback, Brown, P'Shea, Gardner; Johnson, Larsson, Cabral, Giaccherini; Sessegnon; Altidore 

9min GOAL MANCHESTER CITY 1 Sunderland 0 Sunderland head a free-kick back out, but it falls to Dzeko just outside the box. Superb left-foot volley, in off the post. Cracking goal

Andre Villas-Boas' reaction to 6-0 win over South China:

"Today everything was perfect the game went ahead because our groundsman did a great job. He deserves massive credit for allowing this tournament to be played, I hope the Premier League repays him in some way.

Im very pleased with the way we finished … not just physically but the football we played."

On Gareth Bale "He is going to be fit to join the team Wednesday for training."

AVB then refused multiple attempts to get him to confirm if Tottenham have received a bid from Real Madrid 

"I cannot speak about speculation."

Video: Barclays Asia Trophy Highlights 2013

Sorry, few technical difficulties, have had to create a new article.

Tottenham won 6-0, Defoe with a hat trick. AVB reaction here v soon. 

Meanwhile, City Sunderland has kicked off, teams up next