Sunderland vs AZ – News and Probable Lineups

Although AZ Alkmaar finished seventh in the Eredivisie last season, they qualified for the Europa League by winning the KNVB Beker for the fifth time, triumphing 5-1 against NEC in the final in April.

Under the guidance of Leeroy Echteld, the Cheese Farmers celebrated a statement win, defeating Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven 4-0 in the Johan Cruyff Shield. To date, they have experienced their joint-second best start to a top-flight campaign, recording five victories and a draw from their first six league matches.

Points have been collected with wins over Den Haag (2-0), FC Utrecht (4-1), Fortuna Sittard (2-0), Go Ahead Eagles (5-2), and Heerenveen (3-2), before AZ were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Willem II last Friday, conceding in the 81st minute.

Currently sitting second in the league and tied on points with PSV at the top, AZ is preparing for their ninth appearance in the Europa League, following their run to the quarter-finals of the Conference League last season, where they were eliminated 5-2 on aggregate by Shakhtar Donetsk.

This week, AZ heads to the North East with a poor record against English teams in European competitions, having secured only three wins from their previous 22 encounters (D5 L14). Their latest European outing ended in a 3-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace during the League Phase of last season’s Conference League, a year after they managed a 1-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of a Europa League last-16 tie.

Team News

Sunderland will be without injured players Habib Diarra (thigh) and Romaine Mundle (knee), and Chemsdine Talbi, Jocelin Ta Bi, Melker Ellborg, Alan Browne, and Aji Alese have all not been included in the club’s Europa League squad.

Reinildo Mandava was sent off during the closing moments of the match against Arsenal, but he will only serve a domestic suspension and will be available for selection on Wednesday.

Le Bris is poised to field a strong lineup, potentially featuring Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fee, and former Ajax forward Brian Brobbey, while new arrival Malick Fofana will aim to make his debut in the starting XI.

For AZ Alkmaar, essential midfielder Kees Smit is likely to be sidelined due to a groin injury, while right-back Denso Kasius (groin), midfielder Stije Resink (knee), and goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst (ineligible) will also miss out.

Ro-Zangelo Daal has notched up a team-leading five goals in seven matches so far this season, and he is expected to line up on the left side of the attacking trio alongside striker Mexx Meerdink and Calvin Stengs on the right flank.

Captain Jordy Clasie, a former player for Southampton, will join forces with Peer Koopmeiners and Dave Kwakman in midfield, while the central defensive pairing of Lewis Schouten and Wouter Goes is set to remain unchanged.

Sunderland probable starting XI:

Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Dance, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Angus, Le Fee, Airplane; Brobbey

AZ Alkmaar probable starting XI:

De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, Chavez; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Stengs, Kwakman, Daal; Meerdink

With a passionate home crowd rallying behind them, Sunderland will commemorate their much-awaited return to European football. However, they face a challenging encounter against a disciplined and efficient AZ Alkmaar team.

Taking into account the recent erratic performances by the Black Cats and the visitors’ outstanding domestic form, a closely contested match at Wearside may lead to both sides sharing the spoils in their first fixture of this campaign.