Sunderland vs Chelsea: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction
Sunderland welcome Chelsea to the Stadium of Light on Sunday for their 2025/26 Premier League season finale.
Following their 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in October, the Black Cats are aiming to complete a league double over the Blues for the first time since 2000/01.
Match preview
Sunderland could crown their impressive return to the Premier League by sealing European qualification for the first time in 53 years.
They head into the game one point behind Chelsea and a potential Europa Conference League play-off spot.
However, the best-case scenario for Sunderland is a seventh-place finish, which would secure Europa League qualification.
Chelsea ended their seven-game winless run in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
Calum McFarlane’s side currently occupy the Europa Conference League qualificaqtion spot, a competition they won in the 2024/25 season under Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea will take encouragement from the fact that they have lost just two of their last 14 final league matches (W9, D3) heading into this contest.
They have also lost just one of their last 13 Premier League away games against Sunderland (W10, D2).
Team news
Sunderland’s Omar Alderete was forced off with an injury last time out against Everton and will be assessed before Sunday.
They will be without Romaine Mundle, Bertrand Traore and Simon Moore due to injuries, while Dan Ballard will serve the final match of a three-match suspension.
Chelsea’s Joao Pedro missed Tuesday’s win over Spurs with a knock, but is back in contention. Reece James and Levi Colwill could also feature.
Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens will miss the game.
Predicted line-ups
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele, O’Nien, Mandava, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Angulo, Brobbey.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Joao Pedro.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Chelsea.
