Sunderland v CHELSEA: Preview

Date: Sunday twenty fourth
Might 2026

Venue: Stadium of Mild

Kick-off: 16:00 BST

At
final, the tip is right here—get away the bunting and breathe a collective sigh of
aid. We’ve truly made it to the ultimate day of the season, and actually, it
can’t come quickly sufficient.

Positive, there could have
been seasons within the distant previous I wished over, however I can’t recall ever pining
for the end line fairly like this. The earlier it’s wrapped up, the earlier we
can all interact in some wholesome collective amnesia. And our grand finale? Why,
it’s a glamorous away day to Sunderland! Aren’t we simply spoilt for alternative?

Sunderland, who managed
an surprising win at Stamford Bridge earlier within the season, at the moment are giddy at
the prospect of doing the double over us for the primary time because the mists of
the 2000/01 season. Sure, that way back—again when dial-up web was a factor
and folks nonetheless nervous concerning the Y2K bug.

As
for us, we’re perched in eighth – which sounds higher should you say it
shortly and don’t take a look at the desk for too lengthy. In the meantime, Sunderland are tenth
and nonetheless fancying a European journey, only a level behind us. Let’s be
sincere, in the event that they beat us, they’ll be readying their passports faster than you
can say ‘Ryanair sale’.

Sunderland
thumped Everton 3-1 final outing, whereas we lastly broke our seven-game
winless streak on Tuesday – naturally, it was towards Sp*rs, which is about as
stunning as a British financial institution vacation being rained off. However don’t get too giddy
if we seize the lead at the moment – Sunderland have collected 22 factors from dropping
positions this season, and everyone knows how a lot we love to assist with different
individuals’s stats! Positive, a win (and a cosmic alignment of outcomes elsewhere) may
see us in a European competitors – however do we actually fancy one other thrilling
Thursday night time in some far-flung outpost? I think the gamers’ enthusiasm
this afternoon will give us all the reply we’d like.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going
into at the moment’s sport, Sunderland supervisor, Regis Le Bris, says “This sport is a
good alternative to have fun the season at residence in entrance of our followers. On the
minute, we now have 51 factors and the chance to get three extra, which is
spectacular for our first season again within the Premier League. We’ve got grown,
realized, improved and struggled at instances which is regular within the league. If
the whole lot aligns elsewhere, possibly one thing distinctive can occur, however it’s
not totally in our fingers.

Chelsea
is a extremely robust opponent. We are able to’t underestimate Chelsea, it’s inconceivable.
They’ve game-changers, they’ve expertise in all places on the pitch. We’ve got to
play our greatest soccer and that’s sufficient.”

Calum
McFarlane, in the meantime, says “It’s going be an excellent sport. Each groups have to
win as nicely,’ stated McFarlane in his pre-match press convention at Cobham. Sunderland
have had a superb season. They’re a extremely good facet, a extremely difficult
facet, they trigger you actual issues. So we’d like yet another push, yet another huge
sport, one other three factors and hopefully get ourselves up that desk. We want
to face what’s in entrance of us. We’re greater than able to going there and
successful the sport, however we all know we now have to be at our greatest to get three factors
as a result of they’re an excellent facet.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Sunderland, Romaine Mundle (thigh),
Bertrand Traore (knee) and Simon Moore (wrist), are injured and Dan Ballard is
suspended. Omar Alderete faces a late evaluation.

For Chelsea, Jamie Gittens (thigh), and
Estevao Willian (knee) are injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk continues to serve a 4-year
ban pending attraction and Romeo Lavia (knock), is a doubt – as ever!

TEAMS

SUNDERLAND (Attainable line-up): Roefs; Geertruida, Mukiele, O’Nien, Mandava; Xhaka, Sadiq; Hume, Le Price, Anglo; Brobbey

CHELSEA (Attainable line-up): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill; Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos, Neto; Palmer, Fernandez; Joao Pedro

LAST SEASON

N/A

CURRENT FORM (PL)

SUNDERLAND: WLLDDW

CHELSEA: LLLLDW

OTHER STUFF

Sunderland
gained the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in October.Chelsea
have misplaced 1 of their final 13 away to SunderlandChelsea
have misplaced their ultimate sport of the season twice within the final 14Chelsea
final gained consecutive league video games in January/FebruarySunderland
need to win consecutive league video games for the third time this season

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea