The Premier League’s final matchday promises fireworks at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland will host Chelsea in a clash that could redefine both clubs’ European ambitions. After years of instability, the Black Cats have mounted an improbable challenge for a top-seven finish, while the Blues limp toward another underwhelming campaign.
Sunderland—promoted just last season—have defied expectations all year, hovering within striking distance of a historic Europa League spot. Under Régis Le Bris, the French manager who revived the club’s fortunes, the team has showcased gritty performances led by stars like Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey. A win over Everton last weekend kept their dreams alive, but a draw would leave them agonizingly close to a top-eight finish.
For Chelsea, this is a match with everything to play for—and everything to lose. Once tipped as title contenders, the London side has endured a chaotic season marked by managerial changes and inconsistent form. Now eighth, they risk falling into the Europa Conference League playoffs or even missing Europe entirely with a slip-up. A late-season uptick, including draws with Liverpool and Tottenham, offers a glimmer of hope, but their campaign has already fallen far short of promises.
key details of the Sunderland vs Chelsea clash
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
Kickoff: 5:00 PM BST
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Available
TV broadcast: CANAL+ Live 6
Live streaming: CANAL+ digital platform
odds at kickoff
Sunderland win: 3.53 (Betclic)
Draw: 3.60 (Betclic)
Chelsea win: 1.97 (Betclic)
Odds are subject to change before match time.
sunderland’s remarkable revival under le bris
Eight years ago, Sunderland hit rock bottom, suffering two relegations in a row that plunged them into League One. The club’s struggles were even immortalized in the Netflix documentary Sunderland ’Til I Die, capturing a period of despair marked by managerial chaos and financial turmoil. But since Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori took charge in 2021, a bold rebuilding project has taken shape.
Their first major milestone came in 2022 with promotion back to the Championship, followed by a dramatic playoff triumph over Sheffield United last May to secure Premier League status. A blockbuster summer transfer window saw over €100 million invested, bringing in talents like Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fée, and Brian Brobbey, instantly transforming the squad’s profile. Under Le Bris, who arrived in 2024 from FC Lorient, the team quickly became a tough opponent, pushing for European spots despite their promotion status.
Their 3-1 victory at Everton last week proved they’re still in the hunt, but injuries to Daniel Ballard (suspended) and uncertainty over Romaine Mundle and Bertrand Traoré add complexity. Still, with Xhaka marshalling the midfield and Brobbey leading the attack, Sunderland have a real chance to secure their highest finish since 2011.
Predicted lineup:
- Robin Roefs
- Lutsharel Geertruida, Nordi Mukiele, Luke O’Nien, Reinildo Mandava
- Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki
- Trai Hume, Enzo Le Fée, Nilson Angulo
- Brian Brobbey
Manager: Régis Le Bris
chelsea’s season of wasted potential
Chelsea’s 2025–26 campaign will be remembered as one of missed opportunities. Despite spending hundreds of millions under BlueCo’s ownership, the club has cycled through managers with alarming frequency—Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior, and now Calum McFarlane—each failing to deliver consistency. A promising start, including a League Conference title and FIFA Club World Cup win in 2025, quickly unraveled into a string of seven winless games in the Premier League.
Defeats to Nottingham Forest (1-3) and Manchester City in the FA Cup final have cemented the narrative of a season gone wrong. Though Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández have shone at times, the team’s inability to string together results has left them languishing in eighth. A top-seven finish would secure Europa League football, but a loss here could see them drop into the Europa Conference League playoffs—or worse.
Injuries to Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Mykhaïlo Mudryk’s suspension have further disrupted their rhythm. Key players like João Pedro remain uncertain, while Malo Gusto and Roméo Lavia battle for fitness. The upcoming appointment of Xabi Alonso suggests a fresh start, but first, Chelsea must salvage something from this disappointing campaign.
Predicted lineup:
- Robert Sánchez
- Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella
- Moisés Caicedo, Andrey Santos
- Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández
- João Pedro
Manager: Calum McFarlane
historic rivalry: from dominance to new hope
In 126 previous meetings across all competitions, Chelsea holds a commanding record with 61 wins to Sunderland’s 43 and 22 draws. The gap widened significantly after Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, as Chelsea transformed into a European powerhouse while Sunderland struggled through relegations and crises. Their last competitive clash—a 1-2 loss at Stamford Bridge in October—ended a run of 10 wins in 14 games, but those fixtures all occurred between 2011 and 2017 when the clubs were in entirely different leagues.
Sunderland’s shock victory at Chelsea this season sent a powerful message: the Black Cats are back among England’s competitive elite. For Chelsea, the fixture is a reminder of their own struggles to maintain dominance amid constant upheaval.
players who bridged both clubs
Over 30 footballers have donned the shirts of both Sunderland and Chelsea, though their paths often reflected the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. Most arrived at Chelsea as rising stars or established talents, only to end up at Sunderland later in their careers when the London club’s ambitions outpaced their individual roles.
Bertrand Traoré, the Burkina Faso winger, is a prime example. After failing to break into Chelsea’s first team in the mid-2010s, he was loaned to multiple clubs before joining Sunderland this season. Despite his experience, injuries have limited his impact, but his journey underscores the unpredictable nature of careers shaped by ambition and opportunity.
Marcos Alonso, however, stands out as a success story. After a loan stint at Sunderland in 2014, the Spanish defender rediscovered his form and later became a cornerstone of Chelsea’s title-winning team under Antonio Conte, and a Champions League winner under Thomas Tuchel in 2021. His trajectory highlights how a change of scenery—even to a struggling side—can reignite a player’s career.
Other notable names include Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden, who played for both clubs in the early 2000s amid injury struggles, and Norwegian striker Tore André Flo, a Chelsea legend in the late 1990s who later joined Sunderland during their turbulent early 2000s period.
