Stats at a glance: Alkmaar (H): 16/09/2026
Average home goals predicted: 2.4
Average away goals predicted: 0.4
Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 7.5/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 100%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 AZ Alkmaar 0
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Fofana
A night many of us have waited forever for, this is a massive occasion and I just hope we embrace that occasion as we frequently have done over more recent times.
Alkmaar seem like a good side judging purely off their results but so are we – and hopefully we’ll
put in a strong show that gets our European campaign off to a good start.
Key differentiator: Our players’ European experience is vast – they know how to manage this one.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: Alkmaar to have a player sent off in the second half.
Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 AZ Alkmaar 1
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Captain Fantastic Granit Xhaka
After witnessing live at the SOL how unlucky we were to not get something on Saturday night, I can see us applying the lessons quickly and really turning it on for our first European game since God was a lad.
I am not sure about us keeping a clean sheet as we exerted a massive amount of effort at the weekend, so legs will tire if we rotate limited numbers, but I am confident we can get off to a great Europa League debut if we apply ourselves as we did against the Premier League title holders.
Key differentiator: Our physicality and intensity almost got the better of the Gunners, and hopefully will be too much for AZ.
Confidence: 7/10. This could be the start of a wonderful journey, or a bit too much in between the title contenders; hence confidence is at this level for me.
Bold call: There will be at least 3 yellow cards in the first half, as the ref tries to calm and control the occasion
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 AZ Alkmaar 0
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Noah Sadiki
It still feels like a dream.
It’s not even that long ago that we were losing games in the third tier of English football, so to be walking out at home in our first European fixture in 53 years is incredible. If nothing else, it is a memory that all will not forget in a hurry.
AZ have started their season well going unbeaten, though a 1-1 draw with lowly Willem II perhaps demonstrates they have a softer underbelly, which I expect us to exploit.
Take the grit from Arsenal and take it out on our Dutch opponents here.
Key differentiator: Our experienced lads will show the others how to go, galvanised by an excitable home crowd on a momentous occasion
Confidence: 9/10
Bold call: Jules Ahoka to come on in the second half and score with his first touch.
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 AZ Alkmaar 1
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Enzo Le Fee
European football is back on Wearside for the first time since 1973. That alone makes this one pretty special, and I reckon the atmosphere will be bouncing from the off.
AZ have started well and will give us a proper game, but after the performance against Arsenal, there’s no reason to fear them. We should have enough about us at home to create chances and make the most of them.
Le Fée to get us up and running after the penalty mishap on Saturday, then a late winner to send the Stadium of Light absolutely mental.
Key differentiator: The sheer chills this will give us all.
Confidence: 7/10.
Bold call: The winning goal comes after the 75th minute.
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 AZ Alkmaar 1
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Brobbey
It’s been almost 53 years, but European football is back on Wearside.
Drink it in and enjoy what is sure to be an electric atmosphere in the Stadium of Light!
I have very little knowledge of AZ Alkmaar other than their great start to the season. But I simply have to back us to win in the Jozy Altidore Derby.
Key differentiator: The fantastic performance against one of Europe’s top dogs in Arsenal, will have confidence flowing and a determination to get the job done.
Confidence: 8/10
Bold call: We’ll score both of our goals within 10 minutes of each other.
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 4 AZ Alkmaar 0
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Xhaka
Languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table, that belies our actual ability, versus a team flying high in Holland amongst the tulips, windmills and clogs.
I think we’ll go out with a similar side as we did against Hull, significantly more attacking than we do in the Premier League, and we’ll play with the freedom that comes with playing in a competition like this.
Key differentiator: Le Fee will run the play, absolutely terrorising their defence every time he runs with the ball. I think he’ll be the most important player on the day.
Confidence: 8/10. Just the actual result being my only doubt. Could be 8-0. Haway!
Bold call: AZ Alkmaar will not have a shot on target in the first half.
Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 AZ Alkmaar 0
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Brobbey
The day has finally arrived – Sunderland kicking off their Europa League campaign, over half a century since we last participated in a major European competition! It still feels surreal and something I never expected to witness in my lifetime.
Whilst I wish it were more glamorous opponents, AZ will be a test having started with six straight wins in all competitions up until the weekend where they drew. I’m optimistic after the Arsenal match that we have enough desire and heart to begin with a bang though.
Key differentiator: An atmosphere under the lights like Saturday night will be the 12th man. Combined with the fact it is our first European outing for over 50 years, it will mean a lot more to us than AZ who have played in Europe numerous times in recent years.
Confidence: 6/10
Bold call: Sunderland to take the lead in the first 15 minutes.
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 AZ Alkmaar 0
First Mackem to Score in Europe in over 50 years – Enzo Le Fee to banish any demons from Saturday by opening the scoring
Europa league at the stadium of light – still sounds mental but it’s time.
Can’t wait for the lads to strut their stuff in Europe.
In what’s going to be a fantastic night for us, if we play with the same intensity we did v Arsenal we will wipe the floor with them.
Key differentiator: there’s a massive gulf in quality between the Dutch and English league
Confidence: 8/10
Bold call: As it’s our first UEFA European game for a while all goal scorers will be from different continental football organisations. (UEFA/ CONMEBOL / CAF / CONCACAF etc)
Last game thoughts…
While the performance on Saturday was at a level I am not sure I have ever seen we came away empty handed.
2-0 really flattered the Gunners and many a fan of theirs admitted that on the drive back Saturday night, as Talksport kept me awake till I got home around 2am.
Tonight is more important than the league game in my view – this is our first ever foray into European competition earned by league position, and we are improving with every game despite the points not showing for that.
Get there early and sing our hearts out for the lads if you have a ticket.
Pull up a comfy seat and a few tinnies in the living room or line up a couple at the pub if you are out and about. Have your family and friends around you. Make memories however you experience this.
Just relish this challenge, embrace it and enjoy; whatever these lads achieve this is history being re written for little ol’ Sunlun.
Last game predictions…
The predictions ahead of the Champions calling by were mixed, and the apprehensive prevailed in terms of scoring points in our Predictions league.
Predictions table and standings
Matty extends his lead at the top of the table with three others within three points of him.
The remainder continue to hope to haul back the lead, and with an additional point on offer for the first player to score in Europe for the lads in over half a century, there are 5 points on offer tonight, and anyone could get on the podium after this historic whistle blows.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct Bold Call = One point
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
