Sunderland vs chelsea: live tv, probable lineups and betting odds
The final day of the Premier League season promises a dramatic showdown between Sunderland and Chelsea, two teams with contrasting fortunes heading into the clash at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Chelsea arrives with its ambitions in tatters after a catastrophic run of form. Once tipped for Champions League qualification, the Blues have suffered seven straight league games without a win—six of them defeats—since their Champions League exit to PSG in March. A humiliating FA Cup final loss to Manchester City further compounded the misery, leaving the Londoners languishing in 8th place. A Europa Conference playoff spot is the best they can hope for, though 7th place and a Europa League berth remain mathematically alive.
The story in Wearside couldn’t be more different. After relegation to League One in 2018 and years of instability, Sunderland has made a resurgent return to the top flight under owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori. Promoted via the Championship playoffs in 2025, the Black Cats have invested over €100 million in reinforcements, signing Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fée, Brian Brobbey and Nordi Mukiele. Under manager Régis Le Bris, they defied expectations by challenging for Europe for much of the campaign. Though form has dipped of late, their 3-1 win at Everton last weekend keeps their European dreams alive. Just one point separates them from 8th, with two points separating them from 7th—a position that would secure a historic first Europa League spot.
match details: when and where to watch
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
Kickoff: 5:00 PM BST
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Available
TV: CANAL+ Live 6 (France)
Live streaming: CANAL+ digital platform
betting odds ahead of the final whistle
Back Sunderland at 3.53 to pull off a potential upset, while a draw sits at 3.60. Chelsea remains the narrow favorite at 1.97. All odds are subject to change before kickoff.
sunderland’s unlikely rise under Le Bris
Sunderland’s journey back to relevance reads like a redemption story. After successive relegations in 2016 and 2018, the club plummeted to League One under financial and sporting turmoil, a saga later immortalized in the documentary Sunderland ’Til I Die. The takeover by Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori in 2021 marked a turning point. Reaching the Championship playoffs in 2022, they secured promotion in May 2025 with a dramatic victory over Sheffield United—a result that ended a nine-year absence from England’s top flight.
This season’s spending spree—over €100 million on new recruits—reflected the board’s confidence. Players like Xhaka, Le Fée and Brobbey have transformed the squad’s profile, delivering performances that have kept the club in European contention longer than any promoted side in recent memory. Their 10th-place finish would already be the club’s best since 2010-11, a remarkable achievement given the financial disparity with rivals.
>Injuries to Simon Moore, suspensions affecting Daniel Ballard, and doubts over Romaine Mundle and Bertrand Traoré have disrupted the rhythm, but Enzo Le Fée and Brian Brobbey, fresh from their goals at Everton, are expected to lead the attack. The likely lineup features Robin Roefs in goal; a defensive trio of Lutsharel Geertruida, Nordi Mukiele and Luke O’Nien; a midfield featuring Granit Xhaka as the anchor; and a front three of Trai Hume, Le Fée, Nilson Angulo and Brobbey. Régis Le Bris has built a team capable of competing with the elite, and a win could make history.
chelsea’s season of missed chances
Chelsea’s season has been a tale of wasted potential. After lifting the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, the club appeared poised for a new era under Enzo Maresca. The Italian had steadied the ship, delivering a more consistent team and raising hopes of sustained success. But after his January departure and the subsequent dismissal of interim boss Liam Rosenior—following five straight losses—the project collapsed. The club is set to appoint Xabi Alonso as the new manager, signaling a fresh rebuild.
The current 8th-place finish is a far cry from the ambitions of a squad assembled with hundreds of millions. A Europa Conference playoff spot is guaranteed, but a 7th-place finish—offering Europa League football—remains possible only with a win. The Londoners have shown flickers of fight, including a 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a 2-1 victory over Tottenham, but the FA Cup final loss to Manchester City underscored the gulf between expectation and reality.
Injuries to Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens and suspension for Mykhaïlo Mudryk have weakened the squad, while Malo Gusto, Roméo Lavia and João Pedro remain questionable. Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer are expected to start in midfield and attack, though the latter was controversially overlooked for England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The probable lineup: Robert Sánchez in goal; a back four of Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella; a midfield trio of Moisés Caicedo and Andrey Santos; and a front line led by Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto and João Pedro. Calum McFarlane takes charge ahead of Xabi Alonso’s arrival.
head-to-head: chelsea dominates, but Sunderland fights back
In 126 competitive meetings, Chelsea has the upper hand with 61 wins to Sunderland’s 43, and 22 draws. The gap widened significantly after Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, as Chelsea became a European powerhouse while the Black Cats struggled with relegation and crisis. The last 14 encounters, however, all occurred between 2011 and 2017—when Sunderland was also in decline. Chelsea won 10 of those, but Sunderland’s shock 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in October was a symbolic statement of their resurgence.
players who walked both sidelines
More than 30 players have worn the kits of both Sunderland and Chelsea, though their paths often diverged widely. While Chelsea attracted global stars, Sunderland cycled through crises and lower divisions. Many joined the Blues at their peak before moving to Wearside in different circumstances.
Bertrand Traoré, the Burkina Faso winger, is the most direct current link. Signed by Chelsea as a teenager from Auxerre, he never broke into the first team but went on to star at Aston Villa and Lyon. After several loans, he joined Sunderland this season but has been limited by injuries and competition.
Marc Guiu, a promising Spanish forward from La Masia, spent time at both clubs too. He joined Chelsea before being loaned to Sunderland early this season, though his stay was cut short due to injuries in the London squad.
Marcos Alonso stands out as the most successful cross-club story. After a loan spell at Sunderland in 2014—a move that reignited his career—he went on to become a key figure at Chelsea, winning the Premier League under Antonio Conte and the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel.
Boudewijn Zenden, the Dutch winger, also featured for both. A former PSV and Barcelona prospect, he joined Chelsea in the early 2000s before ending his career as a veteran at Sunderland, helping young players navigate the pressure of top-flight football.
Tore André Flo, the Norwegian striker, remains a legend at Chelsea for his aerial ability and goal-scoring in the late 1990s. His later move to Sunderland was less successful, coinciding with the club’s relegation in 2003.
