Burnley and Sunderland are bound to open the next round of the Championship on Friday, 17 January.
With both teams looking for direct promotion this season, who will emerge victorious from this important duel? Read our Burnley vs Sunderland prediction to learn more about this game.
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Burnley vs Sunderland prediction: All square in the derby of the round
Key Stats
- Burnley have only averaged 1.54 total goals per game in the league this season, way less then any other team in the Championship.
- Both teams have scored in just seven of the 26 games played by Burnley in the league so far.
- Seven of the previous 10 games between the two clubs resulted in BTTS – No.
Correct score prediction: Burnley 0-0 Sunderland
You might be interested to find out that the goalless tie is the most common occurrence in this rivalry, responsible for four of the last 10 games. With that in mind and both teams in good form, we can see this being the case on Friday too.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookies don’t trust the Black Cats
- HOME: 6/5 (2.20) – 45.50%
- DRAW: 21/10 (3.10) – 32.30%
- AWAY: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.60%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
It's clear from these Burnley vs Sunderland odds that the bookies see the hosts as the expected winners, but the guests aren't without a chance either.
After all, this makes sense considering that Burnley are just two points ahead of Sunderland in the standings and that both teams are pushing for direct promotion this season.
Anyhow, in addition to our predictions for this game, remember to also check our betting tips for today.
Most recent H2Hs: A close matchup in recent years
We saw Sunderland win twice, Burnley once, along with a couple of draws, in the last five meetings between these two teams. When it comes to their overall H2H record, Sundarland have a more significant advantage: 47-33-39.
England Championship 24/08/24
Sunderland
Burnley
England Championship 31/03/23
Burnley
Sunderland
England Championship 22/10/22
Sunderland
Burnley
England EFL Cup 28/08/19
Burnley
Sunderland
England Premier League 18/03/17
Sunderland
Burnley
Burnley preview: Looking to get to the top of the standings
With just two losses in 26 games in the Championship this season, Burnley have been impressive so far and they are rightfully second in the standings, just one point behind Leeds. Burnley are currently on a streak of 13 games without a loss, but their next opponent Sunderland are just a couple of points behind, so their fans are hoping for an important win at home where Burnley have yet to lose this season.
Hannibal Mejbri has to serve a suspension in this match, while Burnley will also be without injured defender Jordan Beyer.
Predicted lineup: Trafford (GK), Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys, Cullen, Brownhill, Laurent, Sarmiento, Anthony & Flemming
England Championship 11/04/25
W
Norwich
1
Burnley
2
England Championship 08/04/25
D
Derby
0
Burnley
0
England Championship 05/04/25
W
Coventry
1
Burnley
2
England Championship 29/03/25
W
Bristol City
0
Burnley
1
England Championship 15/03/25
W
Swansea
0
Burnley
2
Sunderland preview: In the race for direct promotion
With 50 points from 26 matches in the league so far, Sunderland are one of the main candidates for direct promotion. They are currently fourth in the standings, but league leaders Leeds are just three points ahead of them. There is plenty of football left to be played in this Championship season, but the Black Cats should be in the mix for promotion come the end of it.
When it comes to team news, Dan Ballard, Niall Huggins, and Jenson Seelt are currently out with injuries.
Predicted lineup: Patterson (GK), Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin, Neil, Bellingham, Roberts, Mayenda, Aouchiche & Isidor
England Championship 12/04/25
L
Swansea
1
Sunderland
0
England Championship 08/04/25
D
Norwich
0
Sunderland
0
England Championship 05/04/25
W
West Brom
0
Sunderland
1
England Championship 29/03/25
W
Millwall
0
Sunderland
1
England Championship 15/03/25
L
Coventry
3
Sunderland
0
Player to watch: Josh Brownhill
While we can see this match ending without goals, if someone is to break our expectations, it would likely be Brownhill. Burnley's midfielder has already scored nine goals in the Championship this season, to which he also added three assists, so he's our player to watch in this game.
