How do Sunderland's first 5 fixtures of 2024/25 compare to Middlesbrough | OneFootball

Here we have looked at Sunderland's first five fixtures of 2024/25 season and compared them to Middlesbrough.

Sunderland and Middlesbrough fans will be eager for their Championship campaign to get underway after learning their fixtures for the 2024/25 season.

The Black Cats are under new management heading into this campaign after finally ending their long search for a new head coach. The Sunderland hierarchy decided that Regis Le Bris was the best man for their job, appointing him on a three-year deal.

The Frenchman, who has been working in Ligue 1 with Lorient, will be given the task of getting the Black Cats back into play-off contention after a terrible 2023/24 season in which they finished in 16th place, six points above the relegation zone and a staggering 17 adrift of the top six.

Sunderland now know who their opening fixture is for the upcoming season as well as the rest of the games throughout the campaign, so here at Football League World, we have decided to look at the Black Cats' opening five fixtures and compare them to Middlesbrough…

Sunderland’s first five fixtures of 2024/25

Sunderland get their 2024/25 Championship season underway with a trip to Wales, as they face Cardiff City on Saturday, the 10th, at 12:30.

Both games between the pair were evenly split last season, as the Bluebirds won the first meeting at the Stadium of Light thanks to a late winner. Then the reverse fixture saw Sunderland claim the spoils as they secured a 2-0 win in March.

They then follow that game up with Sheffield Wednesday, which will be Le Bris’ first home game.

The Black Cats finished last season with a poor display at Hillsborough, as the Owls secured a 2-0 win on the final day.

Le Bris’ men then welcome Burnley to the Stadium of Light a week later – a game that will likely be tough for the home side as the Clarets are expected to be favourites for promotion and will possess a strong squad after their relegation from the Premier League.

Their final game in August sees them travel to the South Coast to face newly promoted Portsmouth, which is likely going to be a tough game for any side in the 2024/25 season.

Their fifth fixture of the 2024/25 Championship season sees Sunderland head on the long trip to Home Park to face Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle.

The meetings between these two teams ended with a win each last season and both will be trying to get an advantage earlier in this campaign as well.

Unlike Sunderland, Middlesbrough get their Championship campaign underway with a home game against Swansea City, a team that they collected six points from last season.

Michael Carrick’s men then play their first away game of the campaign as they travel to face Derby County, which is likely to be a tricky affair as it will be the Rams’ first home game of the season.

A week later, Middlesbrough return to the Riverside Stadium, where, like the Black Cats, they face a game against John Mousinho’s Portsmouth. Pompey will likely not be a pushover in the 2024/25 season, as Mousinho has got his side playing some very good football.

Again, like Sunderland, Boro also face a trip to Wales in August, as they play Cardiff City in their final game of the month. Carrick’s men also got the better of the Bluebirds on both occasions last season, with them beating the Welsh side 4-1 back in April.

Middlesbrough’s fifth game of the season sees them return to the Riverside and welcome Preston North End, a team that they beat 4-0 earlier last season but then were beaten by the Lilywhites late in the campaign.

Sunderland and Middlesbrough will want to start 2024/25 season well

Sunderland and Middlesbrough have similar opening five fixtures of the season, as the pair both have to face Portsmouth and Cardiff City in the month of August.

There's an argument to be made that the Black Cats have the trickier fixtures - not least because of their clash with recently relegated Burnley.

Middlesbrough have also got some potentially uncomfortable games, but if Boro play like they can under Carrick, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them come out with a hefty number of points.

Either way, both teams will be keen to make a good start to the season, as they will know that if they can do that, then it puts them in good stead to have a good campaign.

Sunderland and Middlesbrough meetings in the 2024/25 season

Sunderland against Middlesbrough is not considered a derby but there is certainly some local rivalry between the pair.

Therefore, when the fixtures were announced, both sets of fans would have been keen to see when they faced each other.

The first meeting is on September 21st at the Stadium of Light, with the return game coming in February at the Riverside Stadium.