Chelsea welcome Sunderland to Stamford Bridge this weekend, with both sides locked on 14 points but separated by style and ambition.
The 3:00 PM kick-off pitches Chelsea’s high-octane, chance-creating attack against a Sunderland outfit that has built its early season on defensive discipline and clean sheets. The recent head-to-head is heavily weighted in the Blues’ favour, but Sunderland’s resilience could make this an intriguing tactical battle in front of a demanding home crowd.
Best Bets & Predictions
Our top prediction is a Chelsea home win, given their creative edge and dominant head-to-head record. However, with both teams boasting strong defensive numbers and Sunderland struggling to convert chances, there could be value in the total goals and draw markets as well. Here are our best bets for this clash, combining recent form, team strengths, and the odds available from leading bookmakers.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea to Win | 21/50 @ Bet365 (70.4%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Chelsea come into this contest off the back of four wins in a row, although two of those have come in the Champions League. It’s been a great period for the Blues, who have scored 11 goals in that time and conceded just twice and they will be full of confidence for the visit of Sunderland. The Black Cats have impressed themselves this season, winning four of their eight games and sitting in seventh place in the Premier League. The majority of their good form has come at home, with Sunderland winning just four of their 14 points on the road and this represents another tough trip for the Black Cats. |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 11/10 @ Bet365 (47.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Both of these sides have excelled defensively, with Chelsea conceding nine times and Sunderland seeing their defence breached just six times. Home games featuring Chelsea average just 2.3 goals per game whilst away games for Sunderland sees that figure drop even lower at 1.3 goals per game. This trends towards being a low-scoring affair with both sides keeping multiple clean sheets already this campaign. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
- Bet £10 get £30
- Excellent Football Betting Options
- Extensive Bet-Builder
- Multi-Award Winning Bookmaker
New customers can sign up using bonus code SQUAWKA365, bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration Required. This code is for marketing and tracking purposes only. #Ad.
- Fantastic Promotions
- Fun Social Media Content
- New Bookmaker
#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. GambleAware.org
- Enhanced Offers
- Request A Bet Feature
- Vast selection of sports markets
#AD 18+ New customers only. £10 minimum deposit. First single, e/w or multiples bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens for Football BuildABets only. 2 x £10 bet tokens for Football Accas only. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free Bets are non-withdrawable. Free Bets expire after 7 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.
Chelsea vs Sunderland match odds
How both teams head into Chelsea vs Sunderland
Chelsea are in great form heading into this tie, winning their last four games in all competitions and moving into fifth place in the Premier League. It’s been a really good period for the Blues, who have scored 11 goals in those four games and conceded just twice and put a poor run of form behind them. In their last four games they’ve beaten Benfica, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Ajax and they will be looking to add Sunderland’s name to that list.
Sunderland have vastly overperformed expectations this season, winning 14 points from a possible 24 and sitting in seventh place in the Premier League. They’ve lost just twice so far this season, winning four of their eight games and taking points off the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Brentford. Defence has been key for the Black Cats this season and they’ve conceded only six goals in eight games, keeping four clean sheets.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea have long term concerns over Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Cole Palmer, whilst Liam Delap is still a couple of weeks away from a return. There is better news for Enzo Fernandez, though, who came through the match against Ajax in midweek without any issues. Malo Gusto will miss out through suspension following his red card against Nottingham Forest.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland know they will be without Mouhamadou Diarra, Leo Hjelde, Romaine Mundle, Dennis Cirkin and Ajibola Alese through injury but Reinildo will be able to return to the squad after serving his suspension last weekend.
Season Form & Standings
Both sides have identical records after eight matches, but Chelsea’s superior goal difference and attacking output puts them just ahead in the table. Sunderland’s defensive stats are impressive, but they have struggled to match Chelsea’s creativity and finishing in the final third.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 14 |
| Sunderland | 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 14 |
Head-to-Head: Last 2 Meetings
Chelsea have won both of the last two meetings with Sunderland, scoring six and conceding just once. While the sample size is limited, this recent history favours the home side strongly.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 21/05/17 | Chelsea 5-1 Sunderland | Premier League |
| 14/12/16 | Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea | Premier League |
Conclusion
Will Chelsea’s attacking midfielders break down Sunderland’s solid back line, or can the visitors frustrate the home fans and snatch a result? With the Blues’ creative numbers and head-to-head dominance, a home win looks the most likely scenario – and at 21/50 @ Bet365 (70.4% implied probability), it’s our top pick for singles and accumulators alike.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.