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Sunderland face Real Betis in a pre-season friendly at the Stadium of Light.
Last time out Sunderland lost at Hull and Real Betis drew at Coventry.
The Black Cats lost 2-1 at Hull with a first goal for Simon Adingra and an assist from Talbi.
New signings Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs are expected to make an appearance at the Stadium of Light and could even feature if their visas are confirmed in time.
Sunderland have agreed a deal to sign Marc Guiu on loan from Chelsea but he is unlikely to feature.
Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Wilson Isisdor were again absent, Regis Le Bris says that Wilson could be back for this game but Rigg and Patterson need more time. Reinildo will also miss this game as he catches up on fitness.
Betis came from behind to draw 1-1 at Coventry in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night. The team from Sevilla have been training at St. Georges Park this week.
The Verdiblancos ended last season with an impressive sixth place finish in the Primera Liga while also reaching their first major European final where they faced Chelsea at the Wrocław Stadium in Poland for the Europa Conference League final.
After the departures of Cardoso and William Carvalho, the team are looking for a playmaking midfielder to partner Isco.
Regis le Bris:
“Pre-season is set to create experiences with many new players, I think this evening showed that in different phases we are getting better, we made mistakes but it’s the part of the process”
“We have to find the right balance between taking risks and playing a bit safer when it’s needed, we can speak about the first goal we conceded for example, but it’s good at this stage of the season to push a bit more and find the right balance”
We’ll have to be ready for the first round, before we have a different level of fitness, a different level of connection between players, we’ll add new players a bit later, it’s all about creating new habits and connections between players and we need time, it’s about behaviours, involvement, and about connections and new experiences, and we’ll learn.”
Manuel Pellegrini:
No tiene nada que decir
Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Moore, Hume, Seelt, Ballard, Huggins, Sadiki, Le Fee, Diarra, Talbi, Adingra, Isidor.
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Subs: Noukeu, Aleksic, Roberts, Neil, Johnson, Mayenda, Abdullahi, Tutierov, H. Jones, J. Jones
Injured: O’Nien, Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle, Patterson, Rigg,
Real Betis: Pau Lopéz, Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Ricardo, Fornals, Mawuli, Aitor Ruibal, Lo Celso, Riquelme, Cucho.
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Subs: Junior, Pablo García, Altimira, Valentín Gómez, Chimy Ávila, Bakambu, Ángel Ortiz, Morante.
Injured: Isco
My two pence:
Not sure if Xhaka or Roefs will be playing but they should make an appearance on the pitch at some stage. Betis are a decent side so I expect a tough test.
I’m going for a 2-2 draw
Live Stream:
The game will be available to stream live on safc.com, or Betis TV
Ha’way the Lads
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, but I did see most of his games at Roker from his debut to his testamonial, and of course his legendary save at Wembley, the one and only time I have been to that venue.
