Getting ready for action: Fans of both teams provided plenty of colour to the pre-match build up
6min: Sunderland are making all the early moves, with City picking up where they left off after a slow performance against South China.
Johnson has a chance to whip in a free-kick from the right, but it's too high for anyone in the City area. Good start from Di Canio's side, however.
4min: The weather has been a constant talking point since the tournament started on Wednesday, but the pitch looks a bit more promising early on.
Sessesgnon is played through for Sunderland, and his through ball just about reaches Johnson on the right. The winger's pull back is cleared by Kompany, though.
Taking cover: The rain came pouring down in between games, but the pitch has been deemed playable
Kick-off: We're off here in Hong Kong, all eyes will be on new City signing Alvaro Negredo as he starts for the first time since his £20million move from Sevilla.
1.27pm: The teams are out, and the pitch looks OK. City had their fun with the surface yesterday with a Jurgen Klinsmann-esque diving competition in the Hong Kong Stadium.
Sliding in: Vincent Kompany (left) and Joe Hart (right) lark around in the rain during Friday's training session1.25pm: This is the sixth Barclays Asia Trophy final, with Chelsea winning the first and the last tournament, and Bolton, Tottenham, Portsmouth victorious in the other three.
1.20pm: City have a fair bit to prove after their less than impressive performance on Wednesday. You can blame the conditions on the day, but their overall showing wasn't up to scratch.
1.15pm: Breaking news: Manchester United have cancelled their open training session planned for Sunday at the Hong Kong Stadium due to the condition of the pitch.
The pitch has suffered from torrential rainfall in the last week, as well as staging a number of games in a very short space of time.
Eyeing up: David Moyes is in attendance at the Hong Kong Stadium, with Man United cancelling their open training session on the same pitch on Sunday due to the conditions1.10pm: Sunderland are unchanged from their win on Wednesday, while Alvaro Negredo makes his first start in a City shirt. The ground staff had a job of getting the games ready on Wednesday, and they've had similar problems in the last hour or so.
After a dry start, the rain poured down towards the end of Spurs' 6-0 demolition of South China, but it looks as though we're going to go ahead with the final on time.
Sportsmail's Chris Wheeler is in Hong Kong:
'As soon as that game finished, Anthony Taylor - who will take charge of City v Sunderland - came onto the pitch to consult with Spurs groundsman Darren Baldwin as he assessed the effects of that brief downpour. Seems ok to me.'
1.00pm: Good afternoon and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Asia Trophy final, and as expected it's an all-English affair.
After their impressive 3-1 win over Tottenham on Wednesday, Sunderland face Manchester City, who beat South China 1-0 thanks to an Edin Dzeko strike.
Both these teams have bigger fish to fry in the next nine months, but few would turn down the chances at a cheeky pre-season trophy celebration.
And so it is, that the two English clubs face off in the the Barclays Asia Trophy at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Tottenham strolled to victory earlier today on the same pitch, claiming third place ahead of South China, and in the crowd now is David Moyes, whose Manchester United team play here on Monday evening.
Follow all the action here with Sportsmail as it happens, with kick-off from 1.30pm UK time.
And so it is, that the two English clubs face off in the the Barclays Asia Trophy at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Tottenham strolled to victory earlier today on the same pitch, claiming third place ahead of South China, and in the crowd now is David Moyes, whose Manchester United team play here on Monday evening.
Follow all the action here with Sportsmail as it happens, with kick-off from 1.30pm UK time.
