Sunderland vs Chelsea free bets & tips: Expect goals in battle for Europe

It’s the final day of the season in the Premier League on Sunday, and there’s still a lot to play for across the table. One match which has a huge effect on the table is Sunderland vs Chelsea. A win for either side could secure them European football next season, so it should be an exciting match.

It’s spectacular that Sunderland find themselves in this situation in their first campaign back in the Premier League, so the home crowd will be well up for backing the team. Meanwhile, it’s been a poor season for the Blues and the players will be hoping to salvage it by finishing in the top eight.

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Sunderland vs Chelsea is a huge game, as both sides could qualify for Europe with a win, but there’s also a host of other Premier League games on at the same time with lots to play for, including Spurs vs Everton and West Ham vs Leeds, so there’s a lot to bet on.

Sunderland vs Chelsea Betting Tips

Sunderland host Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the Premier League season, with European qualification on the line for both clubs. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 24th May, with kick-off at 4:00pm. Read on for our expert analysis and the betting tips behind our selections.

• Match Result: Draw @ 13/5
• Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 2/3
• Sunderland to Score Over 0.5 Goals in the 2nd Half @ 9/10

Stalemate Expected at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland have proven to be a difficult side to beat at the Stadium of Light since their return to the Premier League. The Black Cats have lost only four of their 18 home fixtures, winning eight and drawing six. Their points tally of 30 at home is notably four more than Chelsea have managed at Stamford Bridge all season.

The foundation of their home success has been a solid defensive unit. Sunderland have conceded just 19 goals on their own turf, a record only bettered by Arsenal, Manchester City, and Brighton. This defensive resilience makes this a challenging fixture for any visiting team, irrespective of their attacking quality.

Chelsea arrive on Wearside with poor away form, having lost four of their last five matches on the road. While they possess the motivation of securing a Europa League spot, Sunderland’s recent 0-0 draw against Manchester United at home demonstrated their ability to hold firm against top opposition.

With Sunderland having already secured a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, this match is difficult to call. Given the hosts’ robust home record and Chelsea’s struggles away from home, the draw presents compelling value in the 1×2 market.

• Sunderland vs Chelsea tip 1: Match Result: Draw @ 13/5

Goals on the Cards as Both Sides Push for Europe

With both Sunderland and Chelsea requiring a victory to boost their hopes of European football, an open and attacking contest is anticipated. The stakes are high, which often leads to opportunities at both ends of the pitch, and a 1-1 draw is considered the most probable scoreline by the bookmakers.

Despite a difficult season, Chelsea’s underlying attacking metrics remain strong. They rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 65.65, yet have underperformed this figure by 8.65 goals. A regression to the mean is plausible, especially in a must-win final game.

The Blues ended a seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Spurs last time out, rediscovering their scoring touch. Sunderland, meanwhile, are aiming to secure back-to-back league wins for the third time this season and will be confident after a solid win against Everton.

Although the Black Cats have seen ‘Both Teams to Score – No’ land in six of their last seven matches, the context of this final-day fixture suggests a different outcome. The need for a result should encourage both managers to adopt an attacking approach.

• Sunderland vs Chelsea tip 2: Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 2/3

Black Cats to Strike After the Break

Our analysis points towards Sunderland finding the net in the second half. They face a Chelsea side that has demonstrated clear defensive frailties after the interval in recent weeks, creating an opportunity for the hosts to exploit.

This trend was evident in Sunderland’s previous outing, where all three of their goals in a 3-1 win over Everton were scored in the second half. Furthermore, this exact bet landed in the reverse fixture when Chemsdine Talbi scored a 93rd-minute winner for the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s recent defensive record supports this selection. The Blues have conceded a second-half goal in five of their last seven Premier League matches, shipping an average of 1.29 goals per game after the break during that spell. Sunderland will look to take advantage of this vulnerability as the game wears on.

• Sunderland vs Chelsea tip 3: Sunderland to Score Over 0.5 Goals in the 2nd Half @ 9/10