
Will the Blades secure their return to the PL?
In European professional football, there are few duels in which there is more at stake financially than in the decisive match for the last vacant spot in the upcoming Premier League season. According to calculations, the second division club could see additional revenue of up to €300 million if they are promoted to the English top flight, depending on whether they manage to establish themselves in the top flight on the island. The Sheffield United vs. Sunderland tip in the Championship playoffs on Saturday afternoon is therefore also influenced by the fact that nothing less than the short to medium-term future of both clubs is at stake.
For a match that lasts 90 minutes and may have to be decided in extra time or even a penalty shootout, it is logically difficult to declare a clear favorite. However, the bookmakers with Klarna deposit options see advantages for the Blades in their prediction between Sheffield United and Sunderland, who picked up 14 points more than the Black Cats in the regular season and also made a far more convincing impression in the playoff semi-finals.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to underestimate the supposed underdogs. The Mackems’ desire to return to England’s top soccer league is palpable. In general, there will of course be a great atmosphere in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium, but it will also be marked by tension and nervousness.
Sheffield United – Statistics & current form
It comes as no surprise that Premier League relegation teams play a prominent role in the Championship thanks to the parachute payments they receive from the English Football Association and the resulting quality of their squads. In the case of Sheffield United, however, there were still concerns in the summer. On the one hand, because the Blades were relegated from the top flight with a disastrous 16 points and well over 100 goals conceded. On the other hand, against the backdrop of a major shake-up with 25 new signings and 23 departures.
Chris Wilder, who led Sheffield from League One back to the top flight between 2016 and 2019, was therefore entrusted with the mammoth task of building a team that could challenge for immediate promotion. And he succeeded! Despite having two points deducted for financial irregularities, SUFC collected an impressive 90 points to secure third place in the final table. Only the two direct promotion winners, Burnley and Leeds United, finished ahead of Wilder’s team.
Sheffield looks extremely solid and stable
The Blades will still have the chance to secure the last PL ticket for next season in the playoff final on Saturday afternoon. They certainly won’t be lacking in confidence, as the red, white and black team made a strong impression in the semi-final against Bristol City, winning both the first and second legs 3-0 without any problems. Looking back on the last six league games, they have four wins, one draw, and only one defeat to their name. Goalkeeper Michael Cooper also kept a clean sheet four times during this period. 36 goals conceded in 48 Championship games are testament to great stability and a strong defensive mindset.
Given their better form compared to their next opponents, their usually very focused defensive performances and the fact that the four-time FA Cup winners have a very balanced squad with very consistent performers, experienced players and hungry youngsters, I personally see advantages for the third-placed team in the regular season. My Sheffield United vs. Sunderland prediction is therefore for the former to win. If you want to place a SUFC win bet on the three-way market, you will find the top odds of 2.40 at Betano.
Sunderland – Statistics & current form
The fact that Sunderland will even be able to battle it out with Sheffield United for promotion to the Premier League on Saturday was extremely uncertain until the 122nd minute of the semi-final second leg against Coventry City. After a 2-1 away win in the first leg in Coventry, the Black Cats lost 1-0 to Lampard’s team in the second leg after regular time, meaning extra time was required. In extra time, the Sky Blues even had a great chance to make it 2-0, but defender Daniel Ballard headed the ball into the net for a celebrated 1-1 equalizer with virtually the last action before the penalty shootout.
There was complete ecstasy at the Stadium of Light, which was hardly surprising. Almost ten years after being relegated from the Premier League, the “Mockems,” as Sunderland fans are known, are dreaming of a return to the strongest soccer league on the island. This weekend, the dream could finally become reality, even though the team led by French head coach Régis Le Bris is considered the underdog on paper. At Bwin, the odds for Sunderland’s promotion ahead of the “do-or-die” match between Sheffield United and Sunderland are 2.20.
Sunderland offense outdoes itself in harmlessness
The underdog status can primarily be explained by the fact that the Black Cats have lost ground as the season has progressed. The best example is the completely botched end of the regular season, in which Jobe Bellingham and Co. lost five games in a row and even went six games without a win. In their last twelve competitive games, the promotion hopefuls have managed just three meager wins.
To make matters worse, almost nothing has been working in attack. In six of their last eight games, the Black Cats have failed to score a single goal. Since the beginning of March, they have only managed to score more than one goal in the aforementioned playoff semifinal first leg in Coventry. In conjunction with the statistic mentioned in the introduction that no playoff final since 2019 has seen more than 2.5 goals scored in regular time, the trend is once again clearly towards a low-scoring game.
This makes the Sheffield United vs. Sunderland odds for a 0-0 score at halftime all the more interesting. At Bet365, a corresponding approach can be hedged with the Asian under 0.75 (1st half). For risk-taking bettors, however, a whopping 3.65 can be found at Winamax if the favorites from Sheffield win the match 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0.
Sheffield United – Sunderland Head-to-head record / H2H record
With a total of 145 encounters, Sheffield United vs. Sunderland is a real evergreen in English football. The two traditional clubs have faced each other 96 times in the country’s top flight alone. However, the last five direct encounters have been spread over a period of six years.
The most relevant for the playoff final are the last two meetings in the regular season, which were both won by the home team. Sheffield won 1-0 at home at the end of November, while Sunderland followed up with a 2-1 win at home on New Year’s Day 2025. Also interesting: 1999 was the last time more than three goals were scored in a game between these clubs. In 13 competitive games in a row, the under 3.5 would have been successful.
Sheffield United – Sunderland Tip
For football aesthetes, the million-dollar game for promotion to the Premier League this weekend is certainly not at the top of the “must-watch” list. However, lovers of honest football, unconditional passion and pure drama will definitely get their money’s worth at the match between Sheffield United and Sunderland at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Basically, I see the Blades as favourites. Chris Wilder’s team has performed better in recent weeks, made a lasting impression in both semi-final matches and is particularly impressive with its very stable defence. Sunderland, on the other hand, has lost six of its last seven competitive games, failing to score on several occasions and finishing the regular season with 14 points less than its opponent.
However, as a lot can happen in 90 minutes and the immense importance of this promotion play-off must also be taken into account when considering the players’ mental state, my preferred approach is to go for an under bet. The teams are likely to feel each other out and neutralize each other, especially in the first half. No one wants to fall behind. I therefore recommend betting on under 0.75 (1st half) between Sheffield United and Sunderland at attractive maximum odds of 1.94. I am betting five units.