Chelsea Vs Sunderland: Heavy Test For Black Horses At Stamford Bridge

Marc Guiu, Chelsea's new bintaang. (photo: x @ChelseaFC)

JAKARTA - Chelsea have the opportunity to move up to the top four of the Premier League standings when they host Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, Saturday night, October 25 local time. This will be the team's first meeting since May 2017, when the Blues beat Black Cats 5-1 in the closing match of the season which at that time sealed the title for Antonio Conte's team.

After having fallen 1-3 from Brighton at the end of September, Enzo Maresca's men are now stepping on the gas. They recorded four consecutive wins in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and conceding only two. The streak closed with a 5-1 party over Ajax in the midweek Champions League because for the first time, three teenage players (Marc Guiu, Estevoo, and Tyrique George) scored in a Champions League game.

Chelsea are now in fifth place in the Premier League standings (4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses) and looks sharp at home. Only Manchester City had a better home record in the calendar year 2025. Of the last 14 matches at Stamford Bridge, the Blues won 10 times, drew 3, and only lost once "coincidentally the defeat came from Brighton too."

Maresca fielded the young squad with an average starter age of 24 years. None of the players are over 28 years of age this season' a real generation revolution in London Blue. Chelsea has also historically excelled over Sunderland, winning 61 of 125 meetings in all competitions, including the last three home wins in the Premier League with an 11-3 aggregate.

Sunderland Condition

Sunderland under coach Regis Le Bris is one of the surprise stories of this season. After eight years of absence, they returned to the Premier League mentally steeled, collecting 14 points from eight of their best matches since 1999'2000 season.

After losing 0-2 to Manchester United, The Black Cats responded with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton last week, through Nordi Mukiele's goal and an opponent's suicide. Sunderland is now in seventh place in the standings, just two points behind Manchester City and nine points safe from the relegation zone.

However, there is an interesting note: Sunderland have never lost in their last 13 away games against the London teams (4 wins, 9 draws) since April 2018. It was their longest record without defeat in the capital. Even so, their record against Chelsea remains gloomy only three wins from the last 26 meetings in the Premier League.

Chelsea lost Malo Gusto who was suspended due to a red card against Nottingham Forest. Several important names were also absent, including Cole Palmer (flood), Liam Delap (hamstring), Levi Colwill (ACL), Benoit Badiashile (dot), Dario Escugo (paha), and Mykhaylo Mudryk who were still playing bans due to doping cases.

The good news is that Reece captain James is expected to return to his right-back position, allowing Moises Caicedo to move up to midfield accompanying Enzo Fernandez. Uphill Estevoo can still be installed in number 10, supporting Joao Pedro who returns from a ban on appearing in the Champions League, as well as Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho in the wing sector.

Sunderland is still without Omar Alderete due to concussions, as well as a number of other players such as Habib Diara, Romaine Londle, Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese, and Leo Hjelde. However, Reinildo Mandava has returned from suspension and will occupy the left-back, while Mukiele is likely to be shifted to the middle for a duet with Daniel

Chemsdine Talbi, who performed well as a substitute against Wolves, has the opportunity to start on the right wing, replacing Bertrand Traore. On the front lines, Wilson Isidor remains the main focus.

Sunderland, which is full of surprises, has the potential to make it difficult for Chelsea, especially with their rapid pressing and high self-confidence. However, the individual qualities and depths of the hot Blues' young squad seem to be talking a lot. In 16 Premier League meetings at Stamford Bridge, none of them ended in a draw and it looks like the trend will continue. Chelsea is predicted to win again, although not easy.

This match is not just a match between an established team and a promotion team This duel between tradition and revival, between a scintillating youth academy and a hard-working team that is reluctant to submit to history.

Estimated Lineup Of Players

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Estevoo, Garnacho; Pedro.

Sunderland (4-3-3):Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Marijuana, Reinildo; Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee.

Score Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland