Match Day Thread Chelsea FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 25th October 2025 - KO 15:00

Sunderland travel to London to face Chelsea in the Premier LeagueLast time out Sunderland beat Wolves and Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest.
The Black Cats maintained their excellent home form with a 2-0 win over Wolves. A goal in each half moved the Wearsiders up to 7th place. Nordi Mukiele scored his first goal for the club and Talbi picked up another assist as his through ball was found the net off Ladislav Krejci
Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete both started despite the injury concerns. Reinildo Mandava is available after completing his 3 game suspension.
Chelsea won 3-0 at the City Ground and effectively sealed the fate of Forest manager Ange Postecoglu. Defender Josh Acheampong and winger Pedro Neto scored just after half-time, prompting chants of "you don't know what you are doing" from the home supporters after Postecoglou reacted by immediately bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, before captain Reece James sealed victory in a 3-0 win for Chelsea.
Gusto is suspended, Delap and Palmer are still out injured.
Regis le Bris:
“An important win it was really vital to react after Manchester United, especially at home where we know that this place has to be difficult has to be a hard place for our opponents.
“I think we started well, I was really pleased with the first half, we controlled the ball, created chances, generated momentum and we scored once and my only regret is that we didn’t score the second one, when it was possible.
“I think especially in this league you can expect a reaction from the opponent and that was the case during the second half, so the second half was totally different but we showed this togetherness, this ambition to defend together and to keep a clean sheet.
Presser on Thursday 13:30pm?
tbc

Enzo Maresca:
“We made some mistakes where we gave them some boost in energy in the first half and we wanted to avoid that”
“Some of the changes were already planned, some players could not play 90 minutes so we have to manage the players minutes”
“We have to deal with a lot of injuries this season and will have to manage the players to rotate them.”
“It’s our job to win games and the consequences for all of us if we don’t win is exactly the same.”

Form:


Match Appointments:
Referee: Andrew Madley
Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton
Assistant Referee: Craig Taylor
Fourth Official: Thomas Bramall
Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Matthew Donohue

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Reinildo, Ballard, Alderete, Mukiele, Hume Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mayenda, Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Masuaku, O’Nien, Geertruida, Rigg, Adingra, Talbi, Brobbey, Traore.
Injured: Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle, Diarra.

Chelsea FC: Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Lavia, Neto, Guiu, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo. Caicedo, Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens, George, Andrey Santos, Hato,
Injured: Colwill, Badiashile, Baya, Palmer, Delap
Suspended: Gusto


Betting Odds:
Sunderland 6/1 Chelsea 2/5 Draw 18/5

My two pence:
Chelsea are riding high and this will be a real test of how far we can go this season. But they did play Ajax in Europe on Wednesday and they also have more injuries than usual, so all is not lost.
If we start well, I think we can nick a point.

I’m going for a 1-1 draw

Live Stream:
TBC

Ha’way the Lads

 

I have a feeling we'll see a back 5 as in the graphic above and it will look a bit like the Man Utd game after Ballard entered the fray, it'll be a close game with Chelsea controlling the bulk of possession. Chelsea might win this but I think they'll have to earn it, expecting a strong and resolute performance from our lads regardless of result.

 

This is quite interesting with AltEnding staying why he would be against going 3 at the back

 

Perfect game for O9 to come in and wind them up, with their discipline issues we could get three of them sent off by half time.

Park the bus, look for quick breaks and just wait for them to implode, it's not an unwinnable game for us.

 

Really looking forward to this one. Mate driving to Doncaster then onto the train from there. Think we’ll get turned over, will be content as long as we give it a go and the GD doesn’t take too much of a battering.

 

2-0 Chelsea. So long as we acquit ourselves well I'll be happy. Cannot wait to watch the stream.

Hhhaaa'wwwwaaaaayyyyyy the lads

 

Didn't realise Chelsea made 10 changes for Ajax's 5-1 demolition at Stamford Bridge, including the recall of Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana as they returned from injury.

The only Blues player to retain his place from the 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest was Romeo Lavia, who played just 45 minutes at the City Ground.

 

Looking forward to this one. Not expecting much against a top class side but who knows. Go there and give it your all thats all we ask. Try and get the tactics right from the start unlike Man utd away. Driving down to Peterborough then train. Bloody railworks. Tube issues as well. Happy days. Haway the lads. Apologies great thread as always RTB thank you.

 

Really fancy a 0-0 in this one. But I think we will give ass good we get from a top team.

Bart

 

Yeah I’ve got no idea who they will start, but I don’t think Maresca has either, they have a lot of talent.
Estevoa was outstanding tonight.

 

I’ve gone for the win as I’ll never say I think we’ll lose but like others have said if we acquit ourselves well I won’t mind losing.

Chelsea Vs Sunderland man ! This is what it’s all about!

 

Feels like this one is a defeat. Don't think it's a game we have to get anything from but anything we can get is terrific.

 

Aye. And get in front in the first half.
Wind the cùnts up.
Can't stand the fookers.
They could batter us but these are the games we craved after years.
We've a cracking squad that's new.
I'll be disappointed as always to lose but we go for a win.

HA'WAY THE LADS
MACKEMS ATTACKEM.

 

Heart say win, head says draw, but i hope we don't lose i will sit back and enjoy the match like most of us but never stop wishing and praying for the win, if we score a goal ill be up run round the table, jump outside and give the neighbour a big hug,as we will both be jumping for joy like kids, then dart back in not to miss to much. Its been a long time since we beat Chelsea its time to make up for it

 

Tough away game! If we were at home I think my opinion may be a little more positive. Chelsea are a good team and Maresca seems to have them improving and building well. I think I am pretty much on the same page as everybody on here in that I know this is a real test. However this team and manager have constantly surprised over the last few months and it would not shock me if we could conjure up a win, however my feeling is that a draw would be a great result and it will keep us heading in the right direction.

 

Brilliant RTB and thank you for your hard work!
That team you have put out there works for me....strong down the spine and force them out wide.
It's not going to be easy but it is doable to get something here.
As I mentioned in a previous post going for a repeat of the Gus era....2 - 1 to the lads.
Ballard from a long throw then in extra time Wilson to get the winner...cue me running down the street.
Well I can Uber it instead....HTL!!!!!
Faint hearts win f*ck all!!!!!!

 

Expect a defeat but as long as we keep it respectable and play our game I'll be happy. A draw is not out of the question, I just don't think a win is realistic.

 

Cracking thread as always @RTB

We are a tough team to score against and if we can keep it tight and frustrate them i think we have a chance.

Going to be an interesting watch thats for sure

 

If there was ever a free hit this is it....give it a real go and see what happens HTL.