UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Sunderland 1 - 0 FT AZ Alkmaar
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Bournemouth
3-0
AC Milan
⚡ Intensity
75
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
3
🎲 Upset
0
Two penalties, one red card, total control
Futmetrix Verdict
26
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Sturm Graz
1-0
Marseille
⚡ Intensity
22
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
11
🎲 Upset
60
Diakité struck; Marseille never answered
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
22' Trai Hume
30' Omar Alderete
Ayoub Oufkir 38'
HT
↓ A. Oufkir ↑Weslley Patati 46'
52' ↓ O. Alderete ↑D. Ballard
↓ K. Smit ↑V. Byskov 59'
Weslley Patati 64'
66' E. Le Fee
67' ↓ T. Hume ↑T. Meunier
67' ↓ M. Fofana ↑B. Brobbey
67' ↓ W. Isidor ↑N. Angulo
72' Nordi Mukiele
↓ J. Clasie ↑D. Kwakman 76'
↓ L. Schouten ↑C. Stengs 83'
↓ M. Meerdink ↑J. Hornkamp 83'
84' ↓ K. Danso ↑C. Rigg
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sunderland
Goalkeepers
Robin Roefs 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Nordi Mukiele 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Kevin Danso 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Omar Alderete
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
52
Total Mins
52
Entry
Reinildo 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Granit Xhaka 
ENFORCER
3
Tackles
3
Tackles
4
Duels Won
80%
Win %
Noah Sadiki
ENFORCER
3
Tackles
3
Tackles
6
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Trai Hume
STORMTROOPER
4
Shots
4
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Enzo Le Fée
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
Malick Fofana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Forwards
Wilson Isidor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
BENCH
Simon Moore 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jenson Jones
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thomas Meunier
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daniel Ballard 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Dayann Methalie
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luke O'Nien
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christopher Rigg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jules Ahoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Proctor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brian Brobbey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nilson Angulo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Tuterov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
AZ Alkmaar
Goalkeepers
Jari De Busser
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Elijah Dijkstra 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
Wouter Goes
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Lewis Schouten
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Mateo Chávez
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Jordy Clasie
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Peer Koopmeiners 
MAGNET
69
Activity
69
Activity
63
Passes
6
Duels
Ayoub Oufkir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Kees Smit
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Ro-Zangelo Daal
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Mexx Meerdink
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
BENCH
Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Wesley Hoedt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seiya Maikuma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rion Ichihara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mees de Wit
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dave Kwakman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Valdemar Byskov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Calvin Stengs
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jizz Hornkamp
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Weslley Patati 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.3
Rating
B. Kovacs
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sunderland
AZ Alkmaar
Sunderland
AZ Alkmaar
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Le Fée Spot-Kick Decides Gritty European Affair at the Stadium of Light
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 30/100. A frustratingly disjointed encounter that tested patience, ultimately settled by a single penalty amid a barrage of wasted Sunderland chances.
Opening Salvos
The early stages at the Stadium of Light painted a picture of contrasting styles. AZ Alkmaar controlled possession, carefully moving the ball in midfield, but it was Sunderland who played with absolute directness. The Intensity of the hosts' pressing led to a flurry of chances, though their radar was distinctly off. Despite racking up a hefty 20 total shots over the ninety minutes, the English side's finishing left much to be desired. Granit Xhaka tried to dictate the tempo from deep, pulling the strings and constantly feeding the attack, but AZ Alkmaar’s defensive block, marshalled by stalwarts like Jordy Clasie, held firm. It was a half characterised by relentless corner pressure from the home side, yet the breakthrough stubbornly refused to arrive.
The Penalty Pivot
As the hour mark came and went, the frustration on Wearside was palpable. The Balance of play started to feel treacherous; for all of Sunderland's 11 corners and a massive 2.90 expected goals, the Dutch side remained firmly in the contest. The definitive turning point arrived in the 66th minute. A clumsy challenge in the box finally broke the deadlock, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped E. Le Fee, who dispatched the penalty with ice-cold precision. It was a singular moment of clarity in a match that had otherwise devolved into a scrappy, chaotic affair. The goal fundamentally altered the tactical landscape, forcing AZ to abandon their cautious approach and chase the game.
Seeing Out the Storm
The final quarter of the match saw the Stakes dramatically rise. AZ Alkmaar threw caution to the wind, generating some late scares as they searched for an equaliser. However, Sunderland's backline, bolstered by the ever-reliable Robin Roefs between the sticks, refused to crumble. Roefs was called into action to make two crucial saves, ensuring the slender lead remained intact. The lack of any real Upset factor meant the result ultimately followed the sheer weight of attacking numbers, even if the hosts were incredibly wasteful. It was far from a European classic, but the solitary penalty was enough to send the home faithful away with three hard-fought points in this League Stage encounter.
Key Questions
What made Enzo Le Fée the Man of the Match?
Le Fée dictated the midfield with four key passes and showed immense composure to convert the decisive 66th-minute penalty that secured Sunderland's hard-fought victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Sunderland and AZ Alkmaar Seek European Footing
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 74/100. An uninspiring Europa League curtain-raiser that struggles to command attention amid low early-stage urgency.
The Setup
September 16, 2026, marks the start of the European campaign at the Stadium of Light. With top-8 direct qualification the ultimate prize, early points matter. Yet, the opening fixtures of the league phase often lack do-or-die jeopardy, which is clearly reflected in a very modest Stakes rating. Sunderland enter with a sluggish Form profile that highlights recent inconsistencies. AZ Alkmaar arrive aiming to exploit that exact vulnerability. A low Stars metric indicates this will be a gritty affair rather than a showcase of marquee talent. The hosts must lean heavily on their engine room, utilizing H. Diarra and E. Le Fée to dictate the tempo against a stubborn Dutch block.
Key Battle
Without a standout individual duel to steal the spotlight, this match will be decided by unit cohesion. Sunderland's central trio must overpower the visitors' defensive structure. N. Sadiki is tasked with anchoring the middle of the park and suffocating AZ Alkmaar's counter-attacks. If the English midfield dominates possession and breaks the pressing lines, the visitors face a long, tiring night on Wearside.
Our Prediction
Expect a scrappy, tightly contested encounter. The Balance rating suggests the teams are fairly matched, but Sunderland should leverage their home advantage. AZ Alkmaar will stay compact and look to frustrate. Eventually, the hosts will grind out a narrow breakthrough. Our take is a 1-0 victory for Sunderland.