Sunderland vs Leeds United — Match Preview
A massive festive fixture takes place at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 28 December 2025. Sunderland are the surprise package of the season, sitting 6th in the Premier League table with 27 points. Under Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have turned their home ground into a fortress and are pushing for European qualification. Leeds United, currently 16th with 19 points, are fighting a different battle. Despite their precarious position, the Whites have found form in December, winning heavily against Crystal Palace and Chelsea. This “friendly” rivalry renews with both sides desperate for points to cap off a busy holiday schedule.
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Match Info
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 18)
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Capacity: 48,707)
- Date: Sunday, 28 December 2025
- Kickoff: 15:00 GMT | 16:00 CET | 10:00 ET
- Referee: Tony Harrington (ENG)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Match Stakes
Sunderland (6th — 27 pts):
- Win → Moves to 30 pts; solidifies their grip on a Europa League spot
- Draw → Keeps the unbeaten home run intact but allows rivals like Chelsea/Spurs to close in
- Loss → A blow to European dreams; could drop to 7th or 8th
Leeds United (16th — 19 pts):
- Win → Moves to 22 pts; huge step away from the relegation zone (likely jumping to ~13th)
- Draw → A valuable point on the road against a top-6 side
- Loss → Momentum halt; keeps them dangerously close to the bottom three
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Team News
Sunderland:
- Roefs R. — Available (Starting GK in fine form)
- Xhaka G. — Available (Midfield General)
- Brobbey B. — Available (Key Striker)
- Rotation: With games coming thick and fast, Chris Rigg or Enzo Le Fée may rotate in midfield. No major fresh injuries reported following the Brighton draw.
Leeds United:
- Calvert-Lewin D. — Available (Top Scorer – 5 goals)
- Ampadu E. — Available (Captain)
- Stach A. — Questionable (Fatigue after Palace win)
- Meslier I. — Out (Lost starting spot to Lucas Perri)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Sunderland
- 20/12 — 0–0 vs Brighton (Premier League)
- 14/12 — 1–0 vs Newcastle (Premier League)
- 06/12 — 0–3 vs Manchester City (Premier League)
- 04/12 — 1–1 vs Liverpool (Premier League)
- 29/11 — 3–2 vs Bournemouth (Premier League)
Leeds United
- 21/12 — 4–1 vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)
- 14/12 — 1–1 vs Brentford (Premier League)
- 06/12 — 3–3 vs Liverpool (Premier League)
- 04/12 — 3–1 vs Chelsea (Premier League)
- 29/11 — 2–3 vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 18/02/2025 — Leeds 2–1 Sunderland (Championship)
- 05/10/2024 — Sunderland 2–2 Leeds (Championship)
- 10/04/2024 — Leeds 0–0 Sunderland (Championship)
- 13/12/2023 — Sunderland 1–0 Leeds (Championship)
- 07/04/2018 — Leeds 1–1 Sunderland (Championship)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Le Fee; Adingra, Rigg, Clarke; Brobbey
Leeds United (4-2-3-1)
Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Stach; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Calvert-Lewin
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Impact Bench
Sunderland: Isidor (Goal threat), Neil (Control)
Leeds United: Piroe (Finisher), Solomon (Dribbling)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Tactical Analysis
Sunderland
Regis Le Bris has built a balanced machine (19 goals scored, 17 conceded). At home, they rely on the defensive solidity of Dan Ballard and the midfield control of Granit Xhaka. They will look to slow the game down and hit Leeds with precision through Simon Adingra and Jack Clarke on the wings.
Leeds United
Daniel Farke’s side is pure chaos entertainment right now (scoring 11 goals in their last 4 games but conceding 6). They will play high-octane, vertical football. Dominic Calvert-Lewin provides the aerial outlet, while Gnonto and James offer blistering pace on the counter. Leeds will not sit back; they will attack Sunderland, which could leave them open at the back.
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Key Battles
- Brobbey vs Rodon — physical duel of the titans
- Xhaka vs Aaronson — experience vs energy in midfield
- Clarke vs Bogle — Sunderland’s main creative threat vs Leeds right-back
- Roefs vs Calvert-Lewin — GK needs to dominate his area against crosses
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Spotlight Players
Sunderland — Granit Xhaka
The veteran midfielder has brought calm and leadership to a young Sunderland side. His ability to dictate tempo will be crucial against Leeds’ high press.
Leeds United — Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The striker is in red-hot form, scoring consistently since his arrival. Against a tight Sunderland defense, his aerial ability and hold-up play are Leeds’ best weapons.
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Prediction
Sunderland 2–2 Leeds United
Sunderland are strong at home, but Leeds are scoring for fun at the moment. Both teams are in good spirits, and fatigue from the festive period often leads to open games and defensive errors. An entertaining draw seems a likely outcome in this renewal of a classic rivalry.
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Betting Insights
- Both Teams to Score — YES (Leeds games are goal-fests)
- Over 2.5 Goals — Likely
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin to Score — High Value
Sunderland vs Leeds United — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Premier League / Main Event
- USA: Peacock
- International: Optus Sport (Aus), Fubo (Canada)
Sunderland vs Leeds United — FAQs
Q: When is the Sunderland vs Leeds match?
A: The match kicks off on Sunday, 28 December 2025, at 15:00 GMT.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Sunderland are slight favorites due to their 6th place standing and home advantage.
Q: Is this a Premier League match?
A: Yes, both teams were promoted from the Championship last season (2024/25).
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