Sunderland return to Europe following a 53-year absence and are set to be cheered on by a capacity crowd at the Stadium of Light as they host AZ Alkmaar in their UEFA Europa League opener.
The Black Cats were still in League One as recently as 2022, but they finished seventh on their return to the Premier League last season to seal their place in the Europa League.
Sunderland join Bournemouth as one of the Premier League's two Europa League representatives and England have had a lot of recent success in the competition.
Tottenham and Aston Villa are the last two winners of the Europa League, which will offer Sunderland supporters some hope, and they have turned the Stadium of Light into a fortress.
AZ Alkmaar are their first opponents in the competition and they have made a flying start in the Eredivisie, taking 16 points from a possible 18 to put pressure on PSV at the top.
AZ cruised past champions PSV 4-0 in the Dutch Super Cup at the start of the season and they are European regulars.
However, the Dutch visitors have a dreadful record against English opposition and will have a hostile atmosphere to deal with on Wearside.
Sunderland v AZ Alkmaar Tips Summary
Best Bet - Sunderland to win @ 1/2
Alternative Bet - Enzo Le Fee anytime goalscorer @ 5/2
Bet Builder - Sunderland to win, Mateo Chavez to be shown a card & Thomas Meunier to have a shot on target @ 8/1
Sunderland v AZ Alkmaar Prediction
Best Bet: Sunderland to win @ 1/2
This is new ground for Sunderland, but there is plenty to suggest that they should cope just fine with what is required of them in the Europa League, especially at home.
Sunderland's home support is often a 12th man and a sell-out crowd is expected in what is their first European game since 1973.
In finishing seventh in last season's Premier League, the Black Cats lost just four of their 19 home games and they made champions Arsenal work extremely hard in Saturday's 2-0 loss.
Regis Le Bris's side contained the Gunners for large periods with their physical approach and they should have taken the lead with Enzo Le Fee missing from the penalty spot.
A 2-0 defeat was harsh on the Black Cats, but they had won their previous two home games to nil and AZ Alkmaar will find this tougher than they do in the Eredivisie.
AZ have a terrible record against English opposition, they have won only three of their 22 meetings, and plenty of that form has come in recent seasons.
The visitors lost 3-1 away at Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in last season's Conference League, and they were beaten twice on trips to Tottenham in the Europa League two seasons ago.
Villa beat AZ at home and away in the Conference League group stage in 2023-24, while West Ham saw off their challenge in the semi-final of that competition a season earlier.
Alternative Bet: Enzo Le Fee anytime goalscorer @ 5/2
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey has a lot of experience playing against AZ Alkmaar from his time with Ajax and the Dutch side will be well aware of the threat he possesses.
Brobbey excels in his hold-up play due to his physicality and that is something that is bringing out the best in attacking midfielder Le Fee, who will be keen to make up for his penalty miss against Arsenal.
Le Fee did score a spot-kick against Brentford and he has had ten shots in just four Premier League appearances, making him a serious danger with his late runs into the box and if he is given any sighters from distance.
Sunderland v AZ Alkmaar Bet Builder Tip
Sunderland to win
Mateo Chavez to be shown a card
Thomas Meunier to have a shot on target
Pays @ 8/1
Sunderland's strong home record combined with AZ's struggles against English opponents make the Black Cats tough to oppose.
Thomas Meunier arrived at the Stadium of Light this season with a wealth of European experience and he has been deployed in a more advanced midfield role, having seven shots in four Premier League appearances.
Meunier's link-up with Nordi Mukiele down the right for Sunderland could cause problems for AZ left-back Mateo Chavez, who was booked four times in seven games in last season's Conference League.
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Key Match Stats
Sunderland have won three of their last four home games
The Black Cats have lost just five of their last 21 Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light
AZ Alkmaar have lost 14 of their 22 meetings with English clubs, winning just three times
Only one of Sunderland's five matches this season has gone over 2.5 goals
AZ Alkmaar have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the Eredivisie season, winning five of their six games
Only one of Sunderland's last four games has seen both teams find the net
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
