Sunderland vs Bournemouth Prediction 29 November 2025

🔊 Which of the two Premier League surprise packages will come out on top, Sunderland or Bournemouth? Not long ago, both were in the top four, but now they find themselves side by side in the top eight. However, the gap to the coveted European spots is minimal—just a single point. Who will emerge victorious in the showdown at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland? Our editorial team provides an insightful prediction on the chances for both clubs.

Head-to-Head

📊 These teams haven't faced each other in quite some time. Their last four encounters took place between 2015 and 2017 when they both competed in the Premier League. Bournemouth came out on top twice, Sunderland won once, and they drew in the other match. In three out of these four games, the total goals did not exceed 2.5.

Sunderland Team Overview

The return of the club season following the international break didn't go as planned for Sunderland. After a stunning away victory over Chelsea (2-1) and a home draw with Arsenal (2-2), the "Black Cats" were determined to take down another London side on the road. However, Fulham had other plans. The "Cottagers" peppered Robin Rufus' goal with 24 shots, amassing a total xG of 2.62. The visitors could only muster four attempts with an xG of 0.29. As a result, Regis Le Bris' side slipped from fourth to seventh in the Premier League standings.

We highlighted Sunderland's main goalkeeper, Robin Rufus, for good reason. It was only thanks to him that the match against Fulham didn't end in a rout. The Dutchman made four saves and prevented 1.27 goals from six shots on target. Overall, the former NEC Nijmegen keeper is showing an impressive level at his new club. Over 12 Premier League rounds, he boasts the best save percentage of his career (79.6) and has earned three Man of the Match awards.

Bournemouth Team Overview

The "Cherries" find themselves winless in their last three matches. This unfortunate streak began even before the international break. Bournemouth's schedule has been unforgiving, with two away games against Premier League top-four contenders. Both ended in defeat: first to Manchester City (1-3), followed by Aston Villa (0-4). Despite the results, Andoni Iraola's side did not look like mere punching bags. Against the "Citizens," for instance, they surprisingly edged possession (52% to 48%) and weren't far behind in terms of chance creation (1.15 xG to 1.57 xG). They even outperformed the "Villans" in expected goals (1.99 to 1.53), though half of the goals they conceded came from set-pieces and the other half from long-range strikes.

Their first match after the international break didn't go as planned either. In the 12th round of the Premier League, Bournemouth hosted West Ham. Here, Nuno Espírito Santo's magic was at play. Despite the hosts' significant territorial advantage (74% to 26%) and their numerous attempts on goal (28 to 5 shots), the "Hammers" were the ones to open the scoring. In fact, the visitors extended their lead to two goals in the first half. However, after the break, the "Cherries" mounted a comeback to secure a hard-fought draw, with their expected goals tally reaching 3.37 compared to their opponent's 0.83. The final score was 2-2.

Latest news

Sunderland

🎙 Reinildo Mandava, after his move from Atletico Madrid to Sunderland, has become the first Mozambican to play in the Premier League. The defender has quickly adapted to English football and immediately established himself as a key player in the starting lineup. Recently, he praised the fans of his new club and reflected on the team's current form. "In away games, like the one against Chelsea, we look at the fans, and there are so many of them in the stands. They are amazing and give you strength. I know it's tough when you're not winning or losing; that's normal. You want to give it your all to earn three points. That's why we push ourselves on the field. This weekend, we need to experience that feeling again. I don't know a single person on this team who wouldn't fight for victory," Mandava said.

❌ Romain Mandl and Leo Hjelde are recovering from Achilles and hamstring injuries, respectively. However, their participation in the upcoming match is doubtful. Habib Diarra and Alese Ajiobola are definitely out, sidelined until at least mid-December.

Bournemouth

🎙 One of the standout performers in the match against West Ham was Enes Ünal. The Turkish striker, who has been recovering from an ACL tear since the start of the year, made his first significant appearance after the injury, playing more than just a minute. He immediately made an impact by scoring a goal and securing a hard-fought draw for his team. Reflecting on his challenging recovery process, Ünal shared: "Anyone who's dealt with an anterior cruciate ligament tear knows that in the first two months, you're just useless; you can't even walk. You try to learn to walk again, then you work on regaining strength, and finally, you aim to become an athlete again. I'm glad I've gone through all these stages, and now we'll see how well I can perform."

❌ The international break took its toll on Bournemouth. Ben Doak (hamstring) and Justin Kluivert (groin) returned from national team duty with injuries. On a positive note, top scorer Antoine Semenyo participated in midweek training.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by chief referee Tim Robinson. His average for yellow cards over the last 20 Premier League matches stands at 4.2. Matches involving Bournemouth tend to see more cautions than those with Sunderland: 4.4 compared to 3.2 over the last five games. However, we anticipate a highly charged encounter ahead. Both teams are neck and neck in the standings and are eager to break into the top four. Our prediction: total yellow cards over 3.5.

⚽️ Goals Prediction

Bournemouth have conceded more goals than any other team in the top eight of the Premier League (20 goals). Their closest rival has allowed four fewer. Despite this, the Cherries' goal difference is only slightly negative (-1). Andoni Iraola's side tends to play their most entertaining matches away from home: in 7 of their last 8 Premier League outings, there have been at least 2.5 goals scored. Sunderland are not far behind: in 6 of the Black Cats' last 7 matches, at least three goals have been scored. With Bournemouth's main playmaker Antoine Semenyo back in action, breaking down Sunderland's low defensive block should be easier for the Cherries. However, their own defense has been shaky, conceding nine goals in their last three games. Our prediction: total goals over 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Sunderland primarily operate with a 5-4-1 formation, indicating that Régis Le Bris often relies on a counter-attacking strategy. This approach is quite justified for a team recently promoted from the Championship, as reflected in the Black Cats' league position. However, this tactic impacts their positional play and consequently the number of set pieces they win in the opponent's half. Sunderland rank third from bottom in the Premier League for corners earned (3.33). They haven't taken more than four corners in any of their last seven matches. Editor's choice: Sunderland total corners under 4.5.

Both teams are on a three-match winless streak in the league, and they sit next to each other in the standings. Sunderland's position in the top eight is quite surprising, considering this is their first season back in the English top flight in eight years, which is why the odds for the "Black Cats" are slightly higher. However, they play at home, where they remain unbeaten in six matches this season.

Nonetheless, containing the powerful attack of the "Cherries," especially with a fit Antoine Semenyo, will be a tough task. Bournemouth rank in the top five in the Premier League for scoring, having found the net in seven of their last eight away games. Predicting the outcome of this clash is challenging, but a high-scoring draw, such as 2-2, seems fair to us. Given these factors, betting on both teams to score (yes) could be a smart move.