The Stadium of Light has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years. [Chelsea](https://roundtable.io/sports/soccer/premier-league/chelsea) have won only one of their last five league visits and lost three of them, including the final-day defeat last May, when Sunderland’s 2-1 win secured European football.
Sunderland also won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in October 2025, with Chemsdine Talbi scoring a late winner after Chelsea had led. That completed a league double over the Blues, and a third successive win would be Sunderland’s first such run in this fixture since 2001.
Life has been far tougher for Sunderland this season. Regis Le Bris’s side are bottom of the table with five points, and Robin Roefs has conceded 17 goals in nine league games. They were beaten 3-1 at Coventry City last time out.
Sunderland also played in Europe on Thursday night against Dinamo Zagreb, who beat the English side 2-0, while Chelsea had a full week to prepare after failing to qualify for Europe.
"Sunderland are currently a club in crisis heading into Sunday’s clash against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, with monumental pressure on Regis Le Bris’ shoulders ahead of the fixture.
"With Sunderland rock bottom of the Premier League table and winless since late August, time is running out for Le Bris as Black Cats boss, and the scrutiny has only heightened further following the substandard Europa League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.
"Chelsea should be feeling extremely optimistic about fixture, with Sunderland looking totally disheveled defensively of late, fractured in midfield and toothless in attack.
"Le Bris’ team are in somewhat of an identity crisis, as he looks to shift Sunderland from last season’s effective, pragmatic approach into more of a progressive team, which has seen the Black Cats suffer a shocking start to the season.
"If Sunderland go out without a wimper against the Blues then it could be time up for Le Bris on Wearside, but bizarrely, his side tend to perform better against opposition they are expected to struggle against (such as Arsenal and Manchester City before the international break, but falter against teams they should be more comfortable against on paper.
"However, as we saw last season, Sunderland know how to get a result over Chelsea, but this Black Cats team are a far cry from the side that won 2-1 on the final day to clinch Europa League qualification.
"Perhaps, Granit Xhaka, who looks a shell of his former self from last season, is still longing for his Xabi Alonso reunion, but may pull out all the stops on Sunday and finally get back to his conductive best.
"If he, and the rest of the Sunderland squad don’t do so, it could be the end of Le Bris’ reign, and I certainly wouldn’t bet against it."
Their score prediction? Sunderland 0-3 Chelsea
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