Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Saudi FC - Sunday 14th December 2025 - KO 14:00

Dunno about everyone else but I’m really serene at this stage about this one.

I know they a very good side with dangerous players but I just feel absolutely calm and ready for it.

 

'We fight for you' – talisman Granit Xhaka sends emotional message to fans ahead of derby



https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...afc/granit-xhaka-sunderland-newcastle-5436561

Granit Xhaka has sent a heartfelt message to Sunderland supporters on TikTok following the Premier League clash against Manchester City, praising the fanbase and promising more to come.The clip, posted to his official account on Tuesday, shows Sunderland fans in full voice with thousands of arms raised as they bounce and sing the Xhaka song in the stands. The video has already garnered significant online engagement, with over 5,700 likes at the time of writing.

Xhaka, who joined Sunderland in the summer as one of the club’s marquee signings, attached a message of appreciation to the supporters, writing: "To our incredible fans, your passion makes us stronger. We still have so much to achieve together. Every week, we feel your support, and we fight for you."

The Switzerland international has quickly become a key figure under Régis Le Bris and continues to build a strong rapport with the fanbase both on and off the pitch. Sunderland face Newcastle United on Sunday in what will be the first Wear–Tyne derby in years, and Xhaka’s message comes at a time when anticipation across Wearside is reaching fever pitch...

Régis Le Bris offers injury update

Régis Le Bris says Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra is set to miss next weekend’s Wear-Tyne derby, with the head coach admitting the fixture against Newcastle United will likely come too soon for the 21-year-old. Diarra has been stepping up his recovery following groin surgery earlier this season and had been in a race to return in time for the derby. While progress has been positive, Le Bris believes the timing will work against him. The Frenchman did, however, offer encouragement elsewhere, revealing that Reinildo is expected to return after sitting out the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City with a groin issue. "For Rei, it could be okay but for Habib, it would be too short, I think," Le Bris said.

Sunderland will also have Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki available for the derby after both avoided a booking at the Etihad. Le Bris moved to withdraw the pair late on, protecting them for Sunday’s clash, with Romaine Mundle and Simon Adingra introduced instead.

Le Bris later explained his decision not to turn to Dan Neil was to keep attacking momentum, with Lutsharel Geertruida pushed into midfield. "Yes, because we tried to stay in the game, to provoke something," he said. "I think with offensive players on the side, it was more or less the idea. It didn't work, but we tried."

 

Many people were delighted when we were drawn against Newcastle in the FA Cup ...

... my heart absolutely sank and I went to the match out of a sense of duty, nothing else.

We were in a rotten mess, demoralised players, hated manager and coming up against a team easily capable of beating us.

This is completely different and even the fact we're in the PL has taken them by surprise. Nevertheless they still expected it to be another David and Goliath affair with an easy win where we're totally overpowered. Not so, despite their size and bravado they'll be nervous and know we have a few slingshots of our own ...

... there's no reason we can't topple them and bring them crashing down, bullseye!

 

Spot on marra. All the cup tie did was to emphasise the gap between us.We we'ren't in the same league.However,we are now, let's see how much we've narrowed that gap come Sunday!

 

Agreed.

Didn’t even pain me that one to be honest didn’t feel remotely like a derby.

Even their away end was **** as they prioritised certain kind of members there was just nothing ‘NE Derby’ about it at all.

Different beast this. We aren’t naive enough to think we are better than them man for man but we are realistic to think we are a match for them as a unit.

This one DOES count and come Sunday I’ll be up a height.

It will be crushing to lose it simply because we know we are capable of winning. We never had that last time.

 

This is a great barometer for us. We are a point ahead of them after 15 matches.
Have we reached a level where we can can compete with them as equals and crush their horrible arrogance?
That's the most important thing that comes out of Sunday.

 

How will they manage without cheap giveaway scarfs to twirl

We managed to compete with Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal ...

... Newcastle are no better than them.

 

And the bubble wrap

 

Well said that Smug, their self-entitled arrogance will hopefully be their own downfall.

Can't wait for this, like you my heart also sank, it was an awful day and the crap we had to endure during the build up boiled my piss, but I still went in the hope we could, and we all know that outcome!!

Fast forward a couple of years and we are now a different beast, the atmosphere, the build-up, the fans, the team are really up for this, and again on paper, they have a much more expensive team, and the pressure is all on them, they MUST WIN to appease their self-entitled 30,000 plastic fans, whereas us, anything from this game is a bonus in our consolidation season, you can't win every battle, but we can win the war HAWAY HAWAY HAWAY

 

After the corporate tickets, the friends & family, etc, they'll have around 1800 supporters there, all SC holders with maximum points ...

... some of them won't know the words to anything except 'United!' tbh

 

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/new...031142#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

A bit metro travel info

 

In case anyone hasn't received a WhatsApp message from the club for Sunday

https://www.safc.com/news/2025/december/10/wear-tyne-derby-supporter-information/

Wear-Tyne derby supporter information

By Sunderland AFC

Sunderland AFC supporters are encouraged to arrive early on Sunday when Newcastle United travel to the Stadium of Light (KO 2pm).

Ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, fans are also asked to familiarise themselves with the key matchday outlined below.

General information

The Stadium of Light turnstiles will be open from 11:30am, and supporters are encouraged to arrive as early as possible to support the team.

An increased stewarding and police presence will be in place, with all bags to be searched upon entry to the stadium.

Please note that there will be no bag drop facility available for supporters on matchday.

The Beacon of Light fan zone will be closed this weekend.

Tickets

Tickets for the fixture are sold out, and fans are reminded not to purchase tickets via unauthorised resale platforms.

Subject to availability, the only place to purchase tickets is via the Club’s official resale platform.

Stadium road closures

From 1pm, there will be no vehicle access to the stadium site.

From 11am, there will be no vehicle access on Hay Street/Richmond Street, St Peter’s and Sheepfolds.

From 11:30am, there will be no vehicle access to the yellow card park via Vaux Brewery Way, but access to the green car park will be permitted until 1pm.

Public transport

Nexus Metro and Stagecoach will be operating under standard Sunday service timetables.

All Nexus Metro trains travelling southbound will bypass the Stadium of Light station and only stop at St. Peter’s station.

All Nexus Metro trains travelling northbound will bypass St. Peter’s station and will only stop at the Stadium of Light station.

At full time, Sunderland supporters will only be able to access the Nexus Metro network via the Stadium of Light station.

Stadium etiquette

Sunday’s fixture will showcase the North East on a global stage, and fans are reminded that their actions will be a direct reflection of the Club.

We ask all fans in attendance to enjoy themselves responsibly and to respect the matchday experience of their fellow supporters.

Abusive or indecent language and discriminatory or violent behaviour, including racist, homophobic, sexist or anti-disability shouting, chanting or actions, is unacceptable.

The Club reserves the right to indefinitely ban supporters found guilty of using discriminatory language or violent behaviour.

If you witness any acts of hate, discrimination or any other type of abusive behaviour, please report it to your nearest steward.

 

Just heard it called the Wear/Sharia derby, made me chuckle

 

It's OK I've got 1
Lets not panic anymore.

 

Well done marra

 

I wonder if that sad skunk AndyP is going, he said there would be trouble if anyone gave him grief the last time he went under the bubble wrap, free scarf, sandwich and bottle of water

 

Brilliant that mate, got me proper buzzing after watching that, cant effin wait

 

Decent weather forecast for Sunday.