Sunderland and Coventry City will get their 2022/23 EFL Championship campaign underway when they face off at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Sunderland finally makes their return to the English second tier after missing out for four years. The Black Cats earned their promotion after winning 2-0 against Wycombe in the final of the EFL League One Play-offs.
Now Sunderland will be looking to cement themselves in the Champions again this season, which will require them to have a stronger start to the campaign. They have had a poor pre-season period where they played five matches, winning just one while drawing one and suffering three defeats.
They are coming of a 1-1 draw against Hartlepool in their final pre-season game and will be hoping to bounce back on Sunday as they seek a dream start to the Championship.
They will need to be playing on top of their game though as the host Coventry City, who finished in a respectable mid-table spot in the second tier last season.
City have also impressed in the preseason where they won all their four friendlies and are coming off a 2-0 away win against Portsmouth in their final preseason tie.
Mark Robins’ side will now look to carry that form into their opening Championship tie as they hope to make a push for the playoff spots this season.
Sunderland vs Coventry City head to head
Both sides have met in 16 encounters since 1996 with Coventry claiming six victories while Sunderland have claimed four victories and there have been six draws.
- Coventry 1-0 Sunderland 01/03/20
- Sunderland 1-1 Coventry 23/11/19
- Sunderland 4-5 Coventry 13/04/19
- Coventry 1-1 Sunderland 19/09/18
- Sunderland 2-0 Coventry 03/02/07
Home
- Hartlepool 1-1 Sunderland
- Accrington 2-1 Sunderland
- Bradford 2-0 Sunderland
- Roma 2-0 Sunderland
- Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe
Away
- Portsmouth 0-2 Coventry
- Walsall 0-3 Coventry
- Nottingham 1-3 Coventry
- Leamington 1-3 Coventry
- Stoke 1-1 Coventry
Sunderland team news
Sunderland have no injury concerns ahead of the clash.
Coventry team news
Coventry also have no injiry concerns ahead of the league opener.
Prediction and odds
- Coventry win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 1.5