Talking Points: Sunderland fall to undeserved loss to Sporting CP

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Distinctive style of play

Facing up against what is, in terms of technique and ability, probably our hardest test of the entire pre-season, the lads more than held their own in the first half in particular, and a distinctive style of play is starting to emerge.

In the opening quarter of an hour or so, we sat off Sporting and allowed them to dominate possession, mainly looking to counter-attack at pace in all areas of the pitch. This could be somewhat a bit of a dress rehearsal for some games in the Premier League, facing off against

Champions League opposition.

Sporting put out a very strong side, but during this early spell of pressure, we arguably fashioned the best chances, with Mayenda, Talbi and Diarra all going close to scoring. As the half wore on, we were in the ascendancy and even controlling the game, playing at a high tempo, interlinking well through the middle and looking to break and counter at pace whenever we could.

Noah Sadiki

It is very early days, but what a pick up Sadiki could be - both in the long and short term. Earlier today, in a FPL-related social media post, the young Congolese native likened himself to N’Golo Kante in a tongue-in-cheek comment, but he could prove to be just that.

Our players tell us why you should select them in your #FPL team... @OfficialFPL pic.twitter.com/yUz5eG7e1q

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 21, 2025

He already has a very strong understanding in the middle of the pitch with Diarra and Le Fee, as the three played against very experienced and accomplished opposition in Morten Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita and dictated proceedings.

He is a tenacious ball-winner and is brilliant on the half-turn. Sporting started off pressing high through the hard-working Conrad Harder (who could’ve easily been sent off in a competitive match for repeated fouling), but stopped because Sadiki is just too press-resistant and aggressive in his own play.

He seems to be the current first choice of Le Bris for the ‘6 role’ even ahead of last season’s promotion-winning captain Dan Neil, and you can see exactly why the Frenchman has made potentially such a big call so early in pre-season.

The midfield connection

Le Bris, after the game, admitted that he was surprised by just how quickly Diarra, Le Fee and Sadiki are forming strong connections (to steal one of his favourite phrases), but it is clear to see why the club’s hierarchy moved so quickly to make this trio the first three signings of the transfer window.

Regis Le Bris says he’s surprised by just how well his new signings - particularly in midfield - are gelling after tonight’s friendly against Sporting Lisbon.
“I’ve been surprised by level of connection already, it was the same in both games. It’s really positive and good for… pic.twitter.com/gmfHKCIo11

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 21, 2025

They are all technically very proficient, play a high-tempo and aggressive game. But crucially, they are already forming triangles up the middle of the pitch that you would expect to see in two months’ time. They were central to pretty much every good chance fashioned in the first half.

I could wax lyrical about Enzo Le Fee for hours here - but I’ll just leave this with proposing that he is quite potentially the classiest and most talented player we’ve seen grace a Sunderland shirt in our modern era.

Defensive recruits required

The second half was, again, a much more backs-against-the-wall affair, with the gulf in class between Sporting and our current second (or third, with potential new recruits and injuries taken into account) string.

As I saw the side for the second half I lamented that it could be a drubbing, but the team once again held firm defensively, and actually did not make any errors akin to the error that led to the game-winning goal in the first half.

The young back four in the second half all deserve praise for this, but I was particularly impressed by Tom Lavery’s defensive nous and positioning.

Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

However, as the mistake in the first half — Dan Ballard stepping up too late on the offside trap — and being down to the bare bones in the second half show, we are desperate for central defensive recruits as soon as possible.

Jenson Seelt had an excellent game. I think his drop of the shoulder past Trincao and 40-yard crossfield ball to Simon Adingra was maybe one of the best individual pieces of play on the night, but this European opposition benefited him, and we’ll need to see how he copes with more physical, direct play. What is most impressive is his constant ability to just make the correct decision, particularly when in possession.

Good tests in Portugal - but need to be more clinical

Sporting’s one big chance ended up as a goal, with a bit of a hash of things made by both Ballard and Blondy - but don’t be fooled, it was an outstanding piece of play. Trincao and Goncalves both made intentionally offside dummy runs, which left Ballard unsure whether to track them or to step up, which allowed Harder space to break free and draw Blondy out into no-man's land from one perfectly weighted lofted ball from Goncalo Inacio.

We needed to show more of this ruthlessness in front of the goal in both games in Portugal - Mayenda in particular has a habit of missing lots of big chances, and you can ill-afford to do so in the Premier League.

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