So, what can we expect from them this season?
As such, many expect them to carry this form into the 2026-27 season, including on the European stage. Sunderland is easily one of the strongest teams in the league, but amongst the line-up are some formidable opponents. Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan will be tough matches, especially on their home soil, and have much more experience in Europe than Sunderland.
To get a sense of expectations, I asked for opinions from fans and professionals.
Anna Whelan and Corey Taylor shared their thoughts as lifelong Sunderland fans. Anna thought the club was going from strength to strength, and Xhaka’s experience combined with the immense support at home games could secure a strong finish. However, she thought the increased number of games, an amount Sunderland haven’t played in a long time, could have a strong effect on performance, as could the tough atmosphere at away games.
Corey thought similarly: 'Sunderland is a strong enough team to compete even with the biggest clubs in the league, particularly at the Stadium of Light, but could struggle at the tougher away games.' He noted AC Milan as a particularly difficult side, with the San Siro being notoriously hard on away teams. Both were looking forward to the challenge, regardless of the result.
Guy Mowbray, a football commentator who began his career commenting on Sunderland games, also shared his perspective from a professional point of view. He believed that Sunderland’s support, whether home or away, will be a huge help in their campaign. In his opinion, no other group of fans in the country rival the level of support Sunderland fans give to the team, and looked forward to an awesome atmosphere in the Stadium of Light, the bigger the opposition the better.
He also noted that given the recent strong performance of English teams in Europe’s second club competition, winning it is entirely feasible, despite only recently returning to this level. However, he noted, any demands in Europe are secondary to those of the Premier League. If progress in Europe is creating a struggle domestically then priorities may have to be considered.
Those following Sunderland’s fortunes in Europe seem cautiously optimistic. The team is certainly on an upward trajectory, but it’s hard to be bullish when success of this level has been so recent. On team quality alone, Sunderland is more than a match for even the strongest teams in the Europa League. Their success will hinge on whether a team recently returned to England’s top flight, let alone Europe, can handle the added pressure and strain of more matches and tough away fixtures. Making it to Europe in the first place, however, is a strong result in itself, especially when their neighbours appear to be slipping from the heights of the last few seasons.