Sunderland welcomes Middlesbrough to Wearside this weekend for what promises to be an exciting encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Both teams have made solid starts to the 2024/25 season, with Sunderland currently sitting in 1st place in the Championship, while Middlesbrough is in 10th. Each side has lost only once in league play this season, with Sunderland falling 3-2 to Plymouth Argyle last weekend—a disappointing setback after a strong start.
Last season, Middlesbrough handed Sunderland a heavy 4-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, but the Black Cats appear to be in better form this time around. Romaine Mundle has been particularly impressive since Jack Clarke’s departure to Ipswich Town, and players like Chris Rigg have also caught attention.
The match kicks off at 12:30 PM on Saturday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Sunderland’s manager, Regis Le Bris, will be eager for his team to impress in front of the cameras and maintain their position at the top of the table.
EFL pundit Sam Parkin, however, predicts a shared outcome. On the Championship Check-In podcast, he said, “I think a draw is likely. Boro have only lost once, and Sunderland just faced their first defeat.” He anticipates a potentially cagey match, given the local rivalry, forecasting a 1-1 scoreline.
Sunderland must address individual errors that led to their defeat against Plymouth, where they played well but failed to secure a point. Improving their consistency will be key, especially as many players are still young and gaining experience in the league.
Facing Middlesbrough could be a significant challenge for Le Bris’s squad, particularly following a loss. While a draw would be a decent result, realistic title contenders like Sunderland will need to aim for a win in this matchup.
