Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland predictions and betting tips – Clash of European hopefuls

Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland are both in a decent position as Christmas approaches. There is still a long way to go, but at the moment these two teams look like European challengers.

Will Brighton come out on top in front of their own supporters, or can Sunderland pick up maximum points after a long trip to the south coast?

• Brighton to win and under 3.5 goals – 11/8 with Sky Bet
• Brighton to win the second half – 19/20 with Midnite
• Danny Welbeck to score any time – 10/7 with 247Bet

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland odds

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Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland predictions

It was the sort of afternoon that Sunderland supporters have dreamed of for years.

In the first Wear-Tyne Derby in the Premier League since 2016, the Black Cats ran out 1-0 winners to send the vast majority inside the Stadium of Light delirious.

An own goal from Nick Woltemade was the difference between the two teams in a game that was high on intensity but low on quality. 

There were not many chances at either end, but Sunderland deserve credit for keeping their arch-rivals at bay once they were ahead.

Even Regis Le Bris could not have envisaged his side taking so well to life in the top flight. Promoted teams have struggled in recent seasons, and as play-off winners Sunderland finished quite a way behind Leeds United and Burnley last term.

Yet as Christmas approaches, Sunderland have no relegation worries on their mind. They head into the weekend in eighth place, a position which could be enough for European qualification come the end of the campaign.

That would be quite the accomplishment for a side which was widely tipped to go straight back to the Championship before a ball had been kicked. 

There is still a long way to go, of course, and we have seen high-flying promoted teams run out of steam in the past, but right now Sunderland fans must be the most content in the division.

Brighton & Hove Albion are 10th ahead of this game on the south coast, but the congested nature of the table means they would go above Sunderland – and potentially all the way up to sixth – with a victory here.

There were positives for Fabian Hurzeler to take from his team’s display against Liverpool last time out. Brighton caused the Reds problems and could easily have picked up a point on another day. They were let down by shoddy finishing, though, resulting in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

Brighton have taken just one point from the last nine on offer, so they are under pressure to get something from this clash with Sunderland – not least because their opponents will be without several key players.

Sunderland have been the league’s hardest-hit team by the Africa Cup of Nations, with Bertrand Traore, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava and Habib Diarra having all left for Morocco.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland betting tips

Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland will battle it out at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Brighton back on track?

Some of those absentees will hurt Sunderland more than others, with Traore, Talbi and Sadiki the most significant.

There are other reasons to fancy Brighton, though. For one, Sunderland have struggled on their travels, losing half of their eight matches at opposition grounds.

On top of that, the emotional nature of the Wear-Tyne Derby will have taken a lot out of Sunderland’s players. They may find it hard to raise themselves again for a more run-of-the-mill fixture.

Brighton’s recent results have been disappointing, but their performances have been better than the scorelines suggest.

Having said that, Sunderland should have some success in keeping the score down. None of their defeats this term have featured more than three goals.

Tip Brighton to win and under 3.5 goals at 11/8 with Sky Bet

Hosts to come on strong

Brighton have been relatively slow out of the blocks so far this season.

The Seagulls rank a lowly 17th in the first-half table, ahead of only Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley.

Their record after the interval is much better, with Brighton eighth in that particular table. This is a side which tends to come on strong as time goes on.

Sunderland’s numerous absentees could be particularly keenly felt in the second period, as legs and minds start to tire.

It is notable, too, that Le Bris’s charges have won only one second half away from home.

Back Brighton to win the second half at 19/20 with Midnite

Welbeck’s scoring return?

Danny Welbeck was rested against Liverpool last time out, with the striker appearing for only eight minutes as a late substitute.

At 35 years of age and with a chequered injury history, Welbeck’s minutes need to be managed. 

Yet Hurzeler will be keen to get his top scorer back in the team for the visit of Sunderland, a club Welbeck represented on loan back in 2010/11.

The former Manchester United and Arsenal man seems to have become a more reliable finisher as he has grown older. Welbeck can strike here.

Go for Danny Welbeck to score any time at 10/7 with 247Bet

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland predicted lineups

• Brighton & Hove Albion expected lineup: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper; Welbeck.
• Sunderland expected lineup: Roefs; Mukiele, Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Rigg, Xhaka, Le Fee; Isidor, Brobbey.

Where to watch Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland

• Location: Amex Stadium, Brighton, England.
• Date and time: Saturday 20th December, 3pm.
• How to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.

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About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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