After eight years wey dem no see Premier League football, Sunderland don finally bounce back go the big stage.
Dem go host West Ham United for Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon as dem open their 2025-26 season.
The Black Cats and the Hammers never jam for league since April 2017, that time wey Fabio Borini score last-minute equaliser make am 2-2 draw for Wearside.
Match Preview
Sunderland fans still dey on top cloud since dem knack Sheffield United for Championship playoff final with 95th-minute winner back in May.
But even with the joy, small tension dey because plenty things don change for the club this summer.
New coach Regis Le Bris don scatter money – £130m – bring 11 fresh signings. According to am, the team need full reset for this “new chapter and new challenge.”
But their pre-season no too sweet: only two wins from nine friendlies (D2 L5), and last weekend Rayo Vallecano even beat dem 3-0 for their home. Still, Le Bris dey talk say him boys don ready, mindset don change as Premier League dey start.
History no dey favour Sunderland for opening-day fixtures – dem never win any of their last seven season openers (D4 L3). The last time dem face season opener, na 2-1 loss to Guardiola’s Man City for 2016-17.
On top that, dem also lose their last three league matches for Stadium of Light before promotion. If dem lose again on Saturday, e go be their first four-game home losing streak since 2017.
West Ham on the other side dey enter their 14th straight Premier League season, and na Graham Potter first full campaign as boss after he replace Julen Lopetegui last January.
Him manage drag dem out from relegation zone but na just 14th position finish, with only five wins from 18 league games. Potter self don admit say the team still be “work in progress.”
This summer, big names like Mohammed Kudus, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio don waka comot. New recruits wey enter include El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters, Callum Wilson and keeper Mads Hermansen, plus Jean Clair-Todibo wey turn permanent.
Pre-season sweet for West Ham as dem win four from five friendlies, including Everton and Bournemouth.
But history dey show say Hammers dey always struggle for matchday one. Dem don lose 16 opening Premier League games – na record.
Dem don also concede 50 goals on matchday one, pass any other team. Still, West Ham get hope because dem never lose to Sunderland for their last eight league meetings (W4 D4).
Sunderland Pre-season Form:
L L L L W L
West Ham Pre-season Form:
W L W W W
Team News
Sunderland go miss Luke O’Nien, Aji Alese (shoulder injuries), Leo Hjelde (Achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist) and Romaine Mundle (thigh).
Mundle go still dey out for like two months. Le Bris still dey reason whether he go risk new boy Omar Alderete plus Arthur Masuaku and Marc Guiu. Alderete don get injury wahala, while the other two never fully fit.
But fans fit see as many as seven debutants for the XI. New captain Granit Xhaka and record signing Habib Diarra likely start inside midfield, with Sadiki or Enzo Le Fee join. For attack, Adingra and Talbi go support Mayenda upfront.
For West Ham, Crysencio Summerville still dey recover from long hamstring injury and no go play. George Earthy self still dey out with ankle knock. Potter fit hand Hermansen debut in goal, but Areola still get chance to start.
Diouf don impress as left wing-back, Wan-Bissaka dey the right, while Todibo, Kilman and Aguerd hold the back. Bowen sure banker for attack – him dey eye record as the first Hammer since Jesse Lingard to score in five straight Premier League games.
Sunderland Possible XI:
Roefs; Hume, Seelt, Balland, Reinaldo; Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra
West Ham Possible XI:
Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Diouf; Bowen, Paqueta; Fullkrug
Prediction
Both teams don change plenty this summer. Sunderland form for pre-season no dey shine, while West Ham own opening-day record bad.
This one fit turn cagey match, but the Stadium of Light atmosphere fit ginger the Black Cats. We dey back Sunderland to shock West Ham with narrow win.
Our Pick: Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United