The Black Cats and the Blades will battle it out this Saturday in football’s richest game. Sunderland and Sheffield United will head to a sold-out Wembley Stadium knowing that they are one victory away from a return to the Premier League.
Sunderland have won their last two visits to the home of football, including a playoff final victory in 2022. Sheffield United, meanwhile, have lost their last four playoff finals and have failed to win at Wembley since 1925
Last Word on Football brings to you the Championship Playoff Final preview ahead of one of the biggest games in world football.
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Sunderland vs Sheffield United, 2025 Championship PlayOff Final Preview: Team News, Betting Odds and More
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
Kick-Off: 3.01 pm BST
Sunderland Team News
Head coach Regis Le Bris has said that “everyone is available more or less”. However, he was playing his cards close to his chest, admitting that there could be a few little manageable injuries and that he has yet to decide on his starting eleven but this will be decided before traveling to London after Friday’s training session.
Romain Mundle is pushing for a start after impressing when coming on as a substitute against Coventry City in the second leg of the semifinal; however, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same eleven that started both semifinal games, start on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris: “We Are Ready”
Speaking ahead of Sunderland’s journey to London for Saturday’s game, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris insists his team are ready. He said: “The players have been well balanced this week and we are repeating what we have done all season. We must focus on our team and our identity. It will be another tough game, but we are ready.
“We can talk about talent and tactics, but one of the strongest qualities of this group is the mindset. They manage different emotions well and stay connected.
“The best way to manage the game is to stay focused. We have to be ready for everything in the game and be the best version of Sunderland.”
Sheffield United Team News
Chris Wilder revealed on Tuesday that he had already picked his side to face the Black Cats, thus eliminating any selection headaches in the build-up to the final. Femi Seriki and Ben Brereton Diaz missed the semifinal but the Blades boss expects them both to be available. Long-term absentees Oliver Arblaster and Rhys Norrington-Davies are out of contention.
United Not Weighed Down by Negativity
Despite Sheffield United’s playoff final record being poor, Blades boss Chris Wilder insists the record means nothing going into Saturday’s game. He said: “If I listen to all the narrative we might as well not turn up and might as well give myself a holiday. I’ve been to the majority of the [play-off defeats] and I was probably saying the same thing as what the majority of the punters are saying as well.
“We’re trying to write our own little bit in the chapter of this famous football club. There’s everything to gain from this group. You know, we’ve not been weighed down by any negativity at all.”
Head-to-Head This Season
29/11/2024: Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
01/01/2025: Sunderland 2-1 Sheffield United
Road to the Final
Sunderland finished the season in fourth place with 76 points while United finished third and 14 points ahead of the Black Cats. In the semi-finals, Sunderland disposed of Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate. A 2-1 win at Coventry was followed by a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in front of over 46,000 fans. Dan Ballard’s header on 121 minutes and 59 seconds secured their place in the final and saw scenes that may never be matched again.
Sheffield United faced Bristol City who finished in sixth place. The Blades’s route to the final was much more comfortable than Sunderland’s as they ran out 6-0 winners on aggregate. Both games finished 3-0 to United.
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Latest Betting Odds
Sheffield United – 13/10
Draw – 21/10
Sunderland – 11/5
Sheffield United in Extra Time – 9/1
Sunderland in Extra Time – 12/1
Sheffield United on Penalties – 15/2
Sunderland on Penalties – 8/1
Odds are from Sky Bet and are correct as of 23/05/2025