The Championship play-off final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Sheffield United and Sunderland battling for promotion and a place in the Premier League.
Sheffield United v Sunderland best bets
- Sheffield United to win by one goal – 3/1 with Sky Bet
- Gustavo Hamer to score or be carded – 1/1 with Sky Bet
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Sheffield United v Sunderland odds
Find the latest match odds for Sheffield United v Sunderland on Sky Bet. Odds are subject to change.
- Sheffield United – 13/10
- Draw – 19/10
- Sunderland – 23/10
Sheffield United v Sunderland prediction
The Championship play-off final takes place on Saturday afternoon with Sheffield United and Sunderland battling it out for the final spot in next season’s Premier League.
Sheffield United head into the bout as favourites to be playing top flight football next season having finished third in the Championship table this time around, and ending the regular season with 14 more points than their opponents this weekend, including a two point deduction.
Chris Wilder’s side had a relatively easy journey through the semi final of the play offs, winning 3-0 home and away against Bristol City to break the record for the largest aggregate victory for a second tier semi final in this country since the play-offs were implemented.
The Blades, who have won three of their last four games without defeat, would break the record for most points gained in the Championship without securing promotion were they to lose on Saturday, having collated 90 points across their 46 game season.
The South Yorkshire side are looking to get back into Premier League at the first time of asking following their relegation from the top flight last season, but hold a torrid play-off final record of having lost all four they’ve been part of, most recently in 2012.
Sunderland needed a dramatic 122nd minute equaliser at home against Coventry to book their place in Saturday’s final, sealing a 1-1 draw on the night to send them to Wembley following their 2-1 win in the West Midlands in the first leg.
Regis le Bris’ side successfully managed to dust themselves down following defeat in each of their last five matches of the season prior to their play-off campaign, but still managed to get past a more in form Coventry side.
The first half of the season went very well for the Black Cats, who sat top of the Championship table in late November with what was looking set to be a four-horse race for automatic promotion, before the Wearside club tailed off after Christmas and finished 24 points behind second placed Burnley.
Sunderland are bidding for a return to the Premier League for the first time since the first of their back to back relegations in 2017, which resulted in spending four seasons in League One, and are now just 90 minutes from returning to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.
The Wearside club have won just one of their four play-off finals prior to this weekend’s clash, but that sole victory did come in their most recent Wembley appearance as they secured promotion from League One with victory over Wycombe three years ago.
Sheffield United head into Saturday’s final as favourites following their stroll to victory in the semi finals, while Sunderland have won just one of their last eight matches ahead of the weekend.
It was one win apiece when the two sides met in the league across the season, but Sheffield United’s extra quality and form should benefit them on Saturday afternoon, and I see the Blades to be promoted following a 2-1 win.
Sheffield United v Sunderland predicted line ups
Sheffield United (4-4-1-1): Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Brooks, Souza, Peck, Hamer; O’Hare; Campbell
Sunderland (4-4-2): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, le Fee; Mayenda, Isidor
Sheffield United v Sunderland betting tips
- Sheffield United to win by one goal – 3/1 with Sky Bet
- Gustavo Hamer to score or be carded – 1/1 with Sky Bet
Sheffield United v Sunderland bet builder
Sheffield United to win by one, Gus Hamer to score or assist, Gus Hamer to score or be carded, Sunderland to receive the most cards – 21/1 with Sky Bet
Only one of the last nine Championship play-off finals has been won by more than one goal, and all of the last five meetings between the two sides have been separated by just one goal.
Gus Hamer received more yellow cards than any other player in the division across the course of the Championship season, and also leads Sheffield United’s goal and assist charts for the campaign, with more goal contributions than any Sunderland player.
Only four teams had a worse disciplinary record than Sunderland across the course of the Championship season.
How to watch the Championship play-off final
- Location: Wembley Stadium, London
- Date and time: Saturday 24th May 2025, 3:01pm
- How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
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