In Pursuit of Excellence | Sunderland A.F.C.

[Xixak]

Gegenpress Works as Sunderland Blank Burnley

December 13th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #16
Stadium of Light
Sunderland (2nd) vs. Burnley (17th)

3 - 0


Clarke celebrates after opening the scoring

Match Facts
54% - Possession - 46%
16 - Shots - 5
3.7 - xG - 1.0
5 - Corners - 2
2 - Free Kicks - 5
0 - Penalties - 0
2 - Yellow Cards - 0
1 - Red Cards - 0

Match Events
12' J. Clarke (SUN)
40' J. Bellingham (SUN)
45' D. Braganca (SUN)
45' D. Braganca (SUN)
51' A. Diallo (SUN)


Man of the Match
Amad Diallo (SUN): 8.5 rating, 1 goal, 2 assists

[Xixak]

Noel Buck to Norwich City for £1.6M

Sunderland took a low risk a year ago buying Noel Buck from the MLS. He hasn't panned out and the club is now moving him on to Norwich for a small fee. He also has no real clean fit in the new 4-2-3-1 gegenpressing system that Rodgers is trying to implement

[Xixak]

Niall Higgins to Saudi League for £3.0M

Niall Higgins also is set to depart the club in January, joining Saudi side Al Ahli for a small £3M fee. He hasn't featured much behind the incredible Leif Davis and will be replaced with someone who can be a more useful understudy to one of the team's top players.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Europa League Bound After Loss to Benfica

December 16th, 2025
UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Matchday #6
Estadio do SL Benfica
Benfica (3rd) vs. Sunderland (2nd)

4 - 2


Benfica players celebrate qualifying for the knockout stages in 2nd

Match Facts
55% - Possession - 45%
12 - Shots - 12
2.4 - xG - 3.2
4 - Corners - 3
2 - Free Kicks - 1
0 - Penalties - 0
0 - Yellow Cards - 1
0 - Red Cards - 1

Match Events
31' A. Cabral (BEN)
38' D. Braganca (SUN)
40' A. Cabral (BEN)
43' J. Clarke (SUN)
57' C. Uzun (SUN)
76' B. Rollheiser (BEN)
80' A. Cabral (BEN)
80' A. Ba (SUN)

Man of the Match
Arthur Cabral (BEN): 8.8 rating, 3 goals

[Xixak]

Sunderland Suffer Poor Loss to Forest

December 20th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #17
City Ground
Nottingham Forest (15th) vs. Sunderland (2nd)

3 - 1

[Xixak]

Sunderland Book a Ticket in Carabao Semis with Obliteration of Rotated United Side

December 23rd, 2025
Carabao Cup - Quarter Final
Old Trafford
Man Utd vs. Sunderland

1 - 6


Sunderland celebrate an easy win over United

Match Facts
50% - Possession - 50%
9 - Shots - 17
1.7 - xG - 6.5
4 - Corners - 3
1 - Free Kicks - 1
0 - Penalties - 0
0 - Yellow Cards - 0
0 - Red Cards - 0

Match Events
18' D. Braganca (SUN)
43' D. Braganca (SUN)
62' A. Ba (SUN)
68' R. Hojlund (MUN)_
70' A. Ba (SUN)
82' N. Buck (SUN)
89' M. Lewis-Skelly (SUN)

Man of the Match
Abdoullah Bah (SUN): 9,0 rating, 2 goals, 1 assist

[Xixak]

Amad Diallo Headed to RB Leipzig for £30M

Sunderland only just brought back Amad Diallo recently. He's performed decently with 7 goals this season, but hasn't had the same sparkle he did when he first joined the club three years ago in the Championship. He's moving on to Germany to join RB Leipzig as Sunderland continues its refresh in pursuit of the right squad for the new 4-2-3-1 gegenpress system.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Continue to Struggle in the League, Lose to Aston Villa at Home

December 27th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #18
Stadium of Light
Sunderland (3rd) vs. Aston Villa (7th)

2 - 4

[Xixak]

Abdoullah Ba to Forest for £8M

Despite a very impressive showing in the recent Carabao Cup match against United, Abdoullah Ba has been very poor for Sunderland over the last three years. The club has finally moved him on and will be looking for someone with more of an electric burst of pace off the bench to replace him as Jack Clarke's backup.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Bounce Back with Win Over Southampton to End 2025

December 31st, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #19
St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton (20th) vs. Sunderland (3rd)

1 - 2