EFL Play-off finals preview: Sunderland v Sheffield United in football's richest game, Charlton v Leyton Orient, Walsall v AFC Wimbledon | OneFootball

In partnership with Betway, Football League World previews all of this weekend's three EFL play-off final clashes at Wembley Stadium.

Dreams will come true, and hearts will be broken; Wembley Stadium is ready to provide the stage for the three 2024/25 EFL play-off final matchups this weekend.

Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United and Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland will meet in the richest game of football on Saturday, with a place in the Premier League and all the riches that brings awaiting the winner.

In League One, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient are set to play for a place in the Championship, as two historic English clubs battle under the fabled Wembley arch on Sunday.

Whilst over in League Two, Walsall and Wimbledon will bring the curtain down on the EFL season on bank holiday Monday, with a place in League One up for grabs.

There will be tears aplenty at Wembley this weekend, that’s for certain. What we’re yet to find out, however, is which sets of supporters will be crying floods of happy tears, and who will be burying their heads in their hands?

We have taken a look at each EFL play-off final fixture, courtesy of online betting company Betway.

Championship

Sheffield United v Sunderland

This season’s trio of EFL play-off finals will begin with the Championship, as third-placed Sheffield United take on fourth-placed Sunderland.

14 points may have separated them in the table this term, but make no mistake, all of that will go out the window when the whistle blows at 3pm this Saturday.

Both clubs will be backed by two of the most passionate and vocal sets of supporters in the second tier, and if the game matches the atmosphere inside Wembley for this one, then we’ll be in for a superb game of football.

After missing out on automatic promotion, there was a certain amount of pressure and expectation placed on Sheffield United to make light work of these play-offs, and so far, that’s precisely what Wilder’s men have done.

A 6-0 aggregate demolition of Bristol City has seen them firmly flex their muscles ahead of the final, but Le Bris’ boys will believe that fate is on their side after Dan Ballard’s instant iconic 122nd-minute winner against Coventry City to send the Black Cats to Wembley.

Wearside shook that night, as will Wembley’s foundations should anything of that level of drama happen again this weekend.

Sunderland’s pair of forwards, Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor have both found their scoring boots once again in the play-offs, and will enter this one full of confidence that they can fire their side to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

However, in Gus Hamer, Sheffield United possess the Championship Player of the Season, with the Dutchman’s quality capable of winning any game of football for the Blades.

Sheffield United have failed to win each of their four previous play-off final appearances, whilst Sunderland tasted victory in the League One final over Wycombe in the 2021/22 season, and also tasted Wembley success with an EFL Trophy win in 2020/21.

Bookies view

Sheffield United – 11/8

Draw – 21/10

Sunderland – 21/10

Odds provided by Betway.

League One

Leyton Orient v Charlton Athletic

There is guaranteed to be red and white confetti falling in the Championship play-off final, and that’s the same in League One, as Leyton Orient take on Charlton Athletic.

After two hotly contested semi-final clashes between Orient and third-placed Stockport County that concluded with an aggregate score of 3-3, penalties were required to decide which of those two sides would make up one half of the third tier play-off final this year.

It would be the O’s day, however, as Richie Wellens’ side would win the shootout by a score of 4-1, as the sixth-placed team in League One this term look to spring another surprise under the arch this weekend.

Charlie Kelman has been in superb scoring form of late, with his first-leg double against the Hatters taking his total goal tally to 27 in 60 appearances this season.

As for Charlton, they too enjoyed their very own dramatic semi-final victory, as Matt Godden’s 81st-minute goal in the second-leg finally broke the deadlock in the tie, and was enough to send the Addicks to Wembley.

Charlton’s most recent Wembley success came in this very fixture back in the 2018/19 season, as Lee Bowyer’s boys defeated Sunderland 2-1 thanks to a 94th-minute Patrick Bauer goal, which has since become one of the all-time classic play-off final moments.

The aforementioned Godden has also been in excellent goalscoring form of late, and so with two in-form centre-forwards going toe-to-toe, this one may well be decided by whose centre-forward turns up on the day.

Therefore, sports betting sites will likely have both Godden and Kelman at short prices to bag a potential promotion-winning goal this Sunday.

Charlton have been putting in some watertight performances at the back recently, with just one goal conceded in their previous three games. The same can’t be said for Orient, however, as Wellens’ side have shipped eight goals in their last six games.

Charlton – 11/10

Draw – 21/10

Leyton Orient – 9/4

Odds provided by Betway.

League Two

Walsall v AFC Wimbledon

It’s fourth vs fifth in the League Two play-off final, as Walsall and AFC Wimbledon bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 EFL season at Wembley Stadium.

Walsall will be strutting down Wembley Way after a 4-1 aggregate semi-final win over Chesterfield, as Mat Sadler’s side reminded everyone why they finished the 46-game season as the fourth tiers’ top scorers, hitting the net 75 times over the course of the campaign.

Four different scorers found the net for the Saddlers over the two legs against the Spireites, with Taylor Allen, Alfie Chang, Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi all etching themselves into Walsall folklore as a result.

This spreading around of goals has been a constant theme of Walsall’s season, with seven different players all scoring five or more league goals this term.

As for Wimbledon, Johnnie Jackson’s side have leaned into their highly uncharitable defence to guide them to the League Two play-off final, with their 35 goals conceded being the fewest of any other side in the division this year.

However, that’s not to say that the Dons don’t have any teeth in attack, as striker Mathew Stevens has bagged 17 goals in the fourth tier this term, whilst adding a further four goals in cup competitions, taking his total tally to 21 goals in 56 appearances ahead of Monday’s final.

Stevens wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet in either of the club’s two semi-final clashes with Notts County though, as Riley Harbottle and Josh Neufville handed the Dons a 2-0 aggregate win over the Magpies to progress to Wembley.

So, it’s a battle between League Two’s best attack against the division’s best defence under the famous Wembley arch, with the winner earning a place in League One next season.

As such, it could be a really tactical affair between Walsall and Wimbledon, as both sides could nullify each other given where their respective strengths lie.

AFC Wimbledon – 6/4

Draw – 15/8

Walsall – 7/4

Odds provided by Betway.