- Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
- Venue: Coventry Building Society Arena
- Competition: Championship Play-Off Semi-Final (First Leg)
Match Preview
Coventry City
Coventry enter this tie in strong form under Frank Lampard, having won 16 of their 29 matches since his appointment.
The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their last 10 home matches against Sunderland (6 wins, 4 draws) and are currently on a three-game winning streak at the Coventry Building Society Arena. They've lost just twice in their last 14 home matches across all competitions.
Sunderland
Sunderland have hit a poor run of form at the worst possible time, losing five matches in a row and winning just one of their last seven.
Injuries to key players like Romaine Mundle and Ian Poveda have hampered their progress. Manager Régis Le Bris faces a tough challenge to rally his side ahead of this decisive encounter.
Match Winner Prediction
Given Coventry’s strong home form and Sunderland’s recent slump, Coventry are the favorites to take a first-leg advantage. Their momentum and historical home record against the Black Cats point to a home win.
➡️ Prediction: Coventry City to win
Over/Under 2.5 Goals Prediction
Only one of Coventry’s last six games have seen over 2.5 goals, while only one of Sunderland’s last eight has had over. With plenty at stake, this could be a nervy fixture with neither team wanting to give much away.
➡️ Prediction: Under 2.5 goals
Final Thoughts
This is a high-stakes encounter with Wembley in sight. Coventry will look to continue their dominance at home, while Sunderland must find a way to reverse their recent fortunes. Expect a competitive clash with both teams looking to put themselves in pole position for Tuesday's second leg.