Sunderland were set to face AZ in an 8pm BST Europa League match, with The Guardian providing live coverage of the evening’s fixtures. The club named a starting lineup featuring captain Granit Xhaka in midfield and striker Isidor up front.
Sunderland made four changes from their narrow weekend defeat by Arsenal, according to the report. Ballard, Brobbey, Angulo and Meunier moved to the bench, while Alderete, Hume, Isidor and Fofana entered the starting team. AZ selected Clasie as captain in a midfield that also included Koopmeiners and Smit.
Xhaka described the match as an important occasion for the home side. The Guardian reported that he said the stadium would be “on fire” and that he wanted to see Sunderland’s players show energy both with and without the ball. He also spoke of his ambition to reach another European final with the club.
The Guardian said Sunderland’s only previous European campaign had come in 1973-74. The club played Hungary’s Vasas and Sporting of Portugal during that campaign, but its continental run ended after Sporting progressed on aggregate despite Sunderland winning 2-0 in Lisbon.
The match marked Sunderland’s return to European competition after what The Guardian described as an extraordinary return to the Premier League and a seventh-place finish. The report said the club had eight fixtures guaranteed in its latest European campaign, with AZ the first visitor to the Stadium of Light.
Elsewhere, Milan were due to host Benfica in another prominent opening fixture. The Guardian also identified Lyon’s match away to Anderlecht and Bayer Leverkusen’s home game against Slovenian side Celje among the evening’s other Europa League fixtures. The supplied report did not include final scores or other match events.