Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar Predictions

• Sunderland have lost only five of their last 22 home games
• AZ have won only three of their 22 meetings with English opponents
• Four of Sunderland’s last five games have gone under 2.5 goals

Black Cats set for dream start in Europe

Sunderland had a dream return to the Premier League last season, finishing seventh to secure their place in the Europa League, and the Stadium of Light is sure to be rocking for the visit of AZ Alkmaar.

The Black Cats have taken four points from their first four league outings but they performed with serious credit in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to champions Arsenal, who were frustrated for large periods.

Sunderland suffered just four defeats in 19 Premier League home games last season and that shows the difficulty that AZ are tasked with given that a passionate home support will be bang up for the occasion.

The visitors have made a near-perfect start to the Eredivisie campaign, taking 16 points from five games, and they defeated PSV 4-0 in the Dutch Super Cup at the start of August.

However, they have a terrible record against English opposition – they have won only three of their 22 meetings – and there is recent form to go on.

In last season’s Conference League, AZ were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and they were twice beaten on trips to Tottenham in the Europa League two seasons ago.

So Regis Le Bris’s side are fancied to make the most of home advantage but the Black Cats are rarely involved in high-scoring classics – their last four matches have gone under 2.5 goals – and they can edge it 2-0.