Sunderland midfielder Xhaka is expected to lead the Black Cats out onto the pitch in the north-east England derby tomorrow. — AFP
Sunderland, Newcastle collide in grudge match
WIDELY seen as among the fiercest football rivalries in England, the coming together of Sunderland and Newcastle at the Stadium of Light has the ingredients of a fiery encounter, marked by an underlying intensity driven by more than just the bragging rights at stake.
These two football clubs, separated by just 19km, have a history dating back to the 19th century, when regional pride and identity were at the core of their distaste for each other.
Historians note that the first competitive Tyne-Wear derby was played in 1888, following on from the two industrial cities having faced off during the English Civil War.
Tomorrow’s league game will be the 157th clash between the two, and just as the results show very little to separate them, so too it appears there will not be much to choose between Tyneside and Wearside this time around.
Newcastle have won 54 of those meetings, Sunderland 53, and the other 50 ended in draws.
Sunderland are ninth in the standings, with 23 points from their 15 matches so far, while the Magpies are a point adrift in 12th place.
Newcastle have the better form over the past five fixtures and, in their last outing, secured a Champions League score draw against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
In contrast, Sunderland lost to Manchester City in the league last weekend.
But not much should be read into that result, given that City are playing some of their best football again.
The Black Cats have shown good form of their own since winning promotion back to the Premier League in May.
Highlighted by a win over Chelsea, Frenchman Regis Le Bris’ side are just three points off a Champions League place.
Sunderland, also motivated by revenge for last season’s FA Cup hammering, will again look to the likes of Trai Hume, Eliezer Mayenda, Simon Adingra, Granit Xhaka and Marc Guiu to carry the day.
Le Bris will be without the suspended Luke O’Nien and the injured Aji Alese.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will have to do without Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Sven Botman.
Notwithstanding this, the Magpies should still carry a serious attacking threat, with Anthony Gordon and skipper Bruno Guimaraes leading the charge.
Both sides will know that in these derbies, recent form and all the hype in the build-up often count for nothing. It’s all about passion.
Everton’s visit to Chelsea in the early kick-off today might not harness as much zeal, but it should be equally compelling.
The Toffees, who briefly found themselves in a Champions League spot last week, are seventh in the table and just one point behind the Blues in fifth.
Since David Moyes’ return to the club mid-season of the last campaign, and the move to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium in the summer, Everton have shown a streak of character not seen since the good old days of the ’80s.
Whether that will continue and be enough to overcome Enzo Maresca’s Blues today, remains to be seen.
Chelsea, who have loads of talent in their squad, can be exceptional on their day but too often appear an underachieving and mediocre side.
If they get it right, though, Everton could be left reeling.
This is why one feels Moyes will set up for a draw at least and harbour the afterthought of a bonus win derived from a quick counterattack.
Still, Chelsea should have too much in reserve, even if they only win by the odd goal.
In our other featured match this week, Crystal Palace are at home to Man City.
Most pundits are going with an away win, and there is little to suggest it won’t pan out that way, even if Palace are in the best form of their lives.
Under Oliver Glasner, who orchestrated their FA Cup triumph, Palace are a solid side.
They are up to fourth in the standings, which comes with an automatic Champions League place, but should find Pep Guardiola’s side a wee bit too strong to brush aside.
All the same, it should make for stimulating television, as with the other games too.
