Brentford are unbeaten in six away fixtures in all competitions this season (W2 D4)
Sunderland have won only one of their last six matches (D2, L3)
Both teams have scored in eight of Brentford's last nine games
Brentford have reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals in back-to-back seasons, and they can secure another berth with an away win over Premier League strugglers Sunderland.
The latest Sunderland vs Brentford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Key Stats
Sunderland have scored only three goals in six home matches this season
There have been at least two goals in the last nine meetings between these teams
Six players have already scored for Brentford in two games in this competition
There have been at least 11 corners in Brentford's last two matches
Chemsdine Talbi scored the EFL Cup winner for Sunderland against Hull in his only start of the season
Callum Wilson has scored the first goal in both of Brentford's EFL Cup matches
Both teams have scored in all six of Brentford's away games this season
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Score prediction
Team News
Daniel Ballard (hamstring), Romaine Mundle (knee) and Kevin Danso (suspension) are unavailable for Sunderland while Wilson Isidor (knock) faces a late fitness test, but Thomas Meunier (hamstring) has a chance to return.
Nordi Mukiele went off early against Leeds but should be available, while manager Regis Le Bris may opt not to risk Brian Brobbey, who returned from a hamstring injury against Leeds.
Timur Tutierov and Juan Riquelme Angulo are alternatives who could play up front and Chemsdine Talbi is in line to make his second start of the season in this competition.
Brentford are still without Josh Dasilva (hamstring), Kaye Furo (foot) and Antoni Milambo (knock).
Yehor Yarmoluyk is suspended, but Vitaly Janelt is available for selection after a ban.
Fabio Carvalho, Mikkel Damsgaard, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Callum Wilson are also in contention to start with some squad rotation likely from the Bees.
Need to know
Sunderland are 20th in the Premier League after winning only one of their first eight top-flight games with two draws and five defeats.
They took four points from their first three games, including a 1-1 draw with the Bees in London in September, but their last five league outings have produced four defeats and Sunday's goalless draw with Leeds.
The Black Cats have managed a win and a draw in their first two Europa League games, and they won 1-0 at home to Hull in the third round of the competition.
Brentford are off to a strong start in sixth place in England's top flight, having lost only one of their first eight matches.
That was a 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool in which they were reduced to nine men.
This is their third successive away draw in this competition but they came through the first two road trips comfortably, thrashing Championship side Birmingham 6-1 in the second round before beating League One Reading 2-1 in the last 32.
They are unbeaten in six away games in all competitions this season.
Prediction
Some major teams will go out in this round of the EFL Cup with Manchester City facing Brighton, Bournemouth playing Aston Villa and Liverpool entertaining Chelsea in some of Wednesday's other ties.
Brentford should see this as a great opportunity to reach the quarter-finals for a third successive season.
Their run was ended by eventual winners Manchester City in the last eight in 2025-26 but they have treated this competition with plenty of respect and can give the competition a higher priority than the Black Cats, who need to extricate themselves from the foot of the table and also have a Europa League league phase campaign to consider.
Sunderland have dropped down the standings quickly since holding Brentford to a draw in the teams' first meeting and the visitors are worth backing to progress in 90 minutes.
Callum Wilson has shown he still knows the way to goal when he gets a chance and the former Newcastle striker has netted the opening goal in both of Brentford's EFL Cup ties this season.
The veteran forward can keep up that run by scoring against Sunderland too.
Brentford may well need at least two goals to progress, as both teams have scored in seven of their last eight games.
Sunderland have not managed more than one goal in any of their home matches this season, but they found the net against the Bees in the teams' league clash.
Brentford are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road, so taking both teams to score has some appeal.
