The eagerly anticipated clash between Sunderland and AZ Alkmaar is set to take place on September 17, 2026, at the iconic Stadium of Light. This match marks the opening round of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League, kicking off at 02:00 WIB, and fans can watch the action live on Vidio.
Return to European Competition for Sunderland
Sunderland, also known as The Black Cats, is making a significant return to European football after a lengthy absence since 1973. Their journey back into this arena was highlighted by a surprising seventh-place finish in the previous Premier League season, which earned them a coveted spot in the Europa League. However, the club’s start to the new season has been less than ideal, with a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses from their last five domestic matches. Their most recent setback came on September 12, 2026, when they were defeated 2-0 by the reigning champions, Arsenal. This loss makes it five defeats in their last nine Premier League encounters at the Stadium of Light.
The upcoming match against AZ Alkmaar presents an opportunity for Sunderland to rekindle the European atmosphere in front of their home crowd. It is noteworthy that this will be their inaugural competitive meeting with a Dutch club.
AZ Alkmaar’s Strong Form
In contrast, AZ Alkmaar approaches this match in excellent form. After clinching the KNVB Beker with an impressive 5-1 victory over NEC in April, they have commenced their Eredivisie campaign with a remarkable five wins and one draw from six outings. As a result, they currently occupy the second position in the Eredivisie table, tied on points with PSV. Despite this encouraging performance, AZ Alkmaar has historically struggled against English teams, managing to secure victory in only three of their previous 22 European encounters.
In terms of squad availability, Sunderland is grappling with injury concerns, missing key players such as Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle. Additionally, Chemsdine Talbi, Jocelin Ta Bi, Melker Ellborg, Alan Browne, and Aji Alese are also unavailable for this crucial match in the Europa League. Fortunately for Sunderland, Reinildo Mandava is eligible to play, despite receiving a red card in the domestic league that only impacts domestic competitions.
Head coach Regis Le Bris is expected to field a strong lineup, featuring players like Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fee, and Brian Brobbey. Malick Fofana could make his debut as a starter in this pivotal match.
AZ Alkmaar, on the other hand, will be without Kees Smit due to a groin injury, while Denso Kasius and Stije Resink are also sidelined. Goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst is ineligible as well, which may present an opportunity for other squad members to step up.
The likely formations for both teams are as follows:
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Angulo, Le Fee, Fofana; Brobbey.
Coach: Regis Le Bris
AZ Alkmaar (4-2-3-1): De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, Chavez; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Stengs, Kwakman, Daal; Meerdink.
Coach: Lee-Roy Echteld
When considering their past performances, Sunderland’s last five matches include:
- September 13, 2026 – Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal
- September 9, 2026 – Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
- September 5, 2026 – Brentford 1-1 Sunderland
- August 30, 2026 – Sunderland 1-0 Fulham
- August 22, 2026 – Ipswich 2-1 Sunderland
AZ Alkmaar’s last five outings consist of:
- September 12, 2026 – AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Willem II
- September 6, 2026 – Heerenveen 2-3 AZ Alkmaar
- August 29, 2026 – AZ Alkmaar 5-2 Go Ahead Eagles
- August 22, 2026 – Fortuna Sittard 0-2 AZ Alkmaar
- August 15, 2026 – FC Utrecht 1-4 AZ Alkmaar
As for the match prediction, AZ Alkmaar has displayed exceptional goal-scoring prowess, netting 20 goals in their six Eredivisie fixtures this season. The standout player for them, Ro-Zangelo Daal, has contributed significantly with five goals in seven appearances thus far. Despite Sunderland’s home advantage and the experience of players like Xhaka and Brobbey, their inconsistency raises concerns when comparing them to the stable performance of AZ, who have shown great organization and efficiency in their domestic play. While Sunderland certainly has the capacity to challenge their opponents, both sides could potentially end with a draw.
Final score prediction: Sunderland 1-1 AZ Alkmaar.
Thus, this thrilling Europa League encounter promises to deliver excitement and suspense as Sunderland aims to assert themselves on the European stage against the experienced AZ Alkmaar.
Match Details:
Competition: UEFA Europa League 2026-27
Fixture: Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar
Venue: Stadium of Light
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Kick-off: 02:00 WIB
Streaming Link: Available on Vidio (subscription required).
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