THE richest game in football takes place this weekend as Sheffield United and Sunderland battle it out in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.
SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest and selected the best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses from our leading betting partners.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland preview
It’s the battle of the red and white stripes at Wembley this weekend with an estimated £265million jackpot on the line.
Sheffield United take on Sunderland in the Championship play-off final – the so-called “richest game in football”;; – with a golden ticket to the Premier League up for grabs.
Victory means joining Leeds and Burnley in the big time next season. Defeat? Another brutal slog in the Championship.
Both semi-finals followed the script: third-placed Blades breezed past Bristol City, while Sunderland left it late with Dan Ballard heading a dramatic extra-time winner to sink Coventry City.
Now it’s all eyes on Wembley – and the Blades are understandably favourites. Chris Wilder’s men finished a whopping 14 points ahead of Sunderland, the biggest gap between EFL play-off finalists since 1988.
Sheffield United racked up a mammoth 90 points – becoming just the third side in history to miss out on automatic promotion with that total. Only Leeds spent more days in the top two this season (143) than the Blades.
However, the Blades have been involved in eight play-off campaigns in the Championship and League One and failed to win promotion in any of them.
Sheffield United haven’t won any of their last seven matches at Wembley Stadium.
As for the Black Cats, Regis Le Bris’ side clocked a league-high 266 days in the top six.
They’ve been in the mix all season but limped into the play-offs on the back of five straight defeats, netting just once. No team in EFL history has entered the post-season in worse form.
They did, however, win in their last meeting with the Blades back in January. They also won their only previous playoff meeting against Sheffield United, winning 3-2 on aggregate in the 1997-98 semi-final.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland preview betting odds
- Sheffield United 11/8 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
- Draw 2/1 with Betfred – CLAIM HERE
- Sunderland 12/5 with BetMGM – CLAIM HERE
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland preview betting tips and predictions
Goals? Nope
We’re expecting a typically nervy affair at Wembley on Saturday, with very few goals likely to feature in a game of such huge importance.
Nine of the previous 12 Championship play-off finals have witnessed only one team score, while seven have registered just ONE goal or less!
It’s also not a H2H clash that yields too many goals with one or less netted in seven of their their last 12 meetings in all competitions.
- Under 1.5 Goals at 6/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Carded
Luke O’Nien could find himself in the referee’s notebook this weekend in a contest that throws up its fair share of bookings.
A whopping 27 cards – including three reds – have been dished out in the last four matches between Sheffield United and Sunderland.
O’Nien, 30, faced the Blades on five occasions in his career and has returned THREE yellow cards – including both of this season’s Championship encounters.
- Luke O’Nien carded at 9/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
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