Sheffield United and Sunderland meet at Wembley Stadium to contest “the richest game in football” in the Playoff Final on Saturday, May 24th. View our England Championship betting tips for the showpiece showdown below.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland Best Odds
Sheffield United 5/4 (+125) | X 23/10 (+230) | Sunderland 11/5 (+220) |
Over 13/10 (+130) | 2.5 Goals | Under 8/13 (-163) |
Yes 1/1 (+100) | BTTS | No 8/11 (-138) |
Sheffield United vs Sunderland Analysis
Sheffield United
Sheffield United will feel they have earned promotion to the Premier League having accumulated a mammoth 90 points during the Championship’s regular campaign, though the Blades have one more hurdle to overcome before they get their just deserts.
Chris Wilder’s side saw off Bristol City in the playoff semi-finals, recording 3-0 wins in each leg to advance to Saturday’s showpiece final at Wembley with relative ease.
The Blades lost 2-1 when they last faced Sunderland in January, though they created more in expected goals (1.60-1.00) and mustered more shots (15-14) than the Black Cats on that occasion, and Sheff Utd will hope for more fortune in London.
United will kick off at Wembley as favourites to triumph on sites for sports betting, though the Blades will have to overcome their playoff hoodoo to prevail having fallen short in all five of their previous second-tier play-off campaigns.
Team news: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ollie Arblaster, Sai Sachdev and Harrison Clarke are all expected to miss out on Saturday.
Predicted Lineup: Cooper, Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows, Brooks, Peck, Souza, Hamer, Cannon, Moore
Sunderland
Sunderland just about kept their dreams of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 alive when they scored a 122nd-minute goal through Daniel Ballard to edge out Coventry in the playoff semi-final second leg.
Optimists will say that Ballard’s dramatic header was a “name on the trophy” sort of moment, though Sunderland were arguably second best in both legs against the Sky Blues, and a major improvement will be needed to triumph at Wembley.
Sunderland, who are listed as underdogs on EFL betting sites, conceded 34 shots over their two semi-final encounters with Coventry, and if they fail to tighten up defensively, they could be punished by a more clinical Sheffield United outfit.
Team news: Sunderland will be without Jayden Danns and Ian Poveda in the playoff final.
Predicted Lineup: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin, Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Le Fee, Mayenda, Isidor
Sheffield United vs Sunderland Stats and Trends
- Both teams scored in three of the last four meetings between Sheffield United and Sunderland.
- 15 players were carded in Sunderland’s playoff semi-final meetings with Coventry.
- Callum O’Hare scored in each of Sheffield United’s two wins over Bristol City in the playoff semis.
- 16 and 14 corners were awarded in Sheffield United and Sunderland’s two encounters during the regular Championship campaign.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland Prediction
Sunderland scraped through their playoff semi-final double header with Coventry despite losing both the xG and shots attempted battle in each leg, though the Black Cats’ will need more than good fortune to topple Sheffield United. The Blades played with confidence when dispatching Bristol City in the semis and successive 3-0 wins over the Robins should set them up for more success at Wembley Stadium.
Prediction: Sheffield United to win – 5/4 (+125) – Fitzdares
Sheffield United vs Sunderland – The Ultimate Bet:
Both teams to score – Yes – 1/1 (+100)
With a place in the Premier League the prize for the victor, we expect Sheffield United and Sunderland to trade blows in an exciting Championship Playoff Final at Wembley Stadium, and a dip into the BTTS market at even money looks like an attractive prospect as a result.
Both teams managed to score in three of the last four meetings between Sheffield United and Sunderland, including their last encounter in January, and we’re tipping that trend to continue on Saturday.