Lech Poznan vs Sunderland predictions: Black Cats’ luck in front of goal unlikely to change in Poland
Jamie Griffith
Lech Poznan are propping up the league-phase standings after a pair of 4-0 defeats
Sunderland have won their opening two Europa League fixtures
The hosts have lost four of their five meetings with English clubs
Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Bournemouth marked Sunderland’s fourth Premier League defeat in a row, so it is a good job for manager Regis Le Bris that things are going better in the Europa League.
A third consecutive league-phase victory is expected when they head to basement boys Lech Poznan on Thursday, although the Black Cats are still struggling to find their best form, so a low-scoring affair seems likely in Poland.
The latest Lech Poznan vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Key Stats
Sunderland have lost four of their last six games
Lech Poznan are yet to score a goal in the league phase
Only Rennes (0.8) have conceded fewer expected goals than Sunderland’s 1.4 in the Europa League
Lech have given away three penalties in their opening two league-phase matches
Seven of the Black Cats’ last nine games have featured fewer than three goals
Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele is committing 4.5 fouls per 90 minutes in the Europa League, more than any other player
Recommended Bets
Bet Builder
Under 2.5 goals
Over 9.5 corners
Nilson Angulo over 0.5 shots on target
Score prediction
Team News
Alex Douglas, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Ali Gholizadeh miss out for the hosts but Radoslaw Murawski is back from suspension.
Forwards Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor have returned to training, although neither are likely to be risked. Romaine Mundle, Daniel Ballard and Thomas Meunier are long-term absentees.
Need to know
Le Bris’s odds to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post were slashed after Sunday’s humbling defeat at Bournemouth, so Sunderland continuing their strong start in Europe is key to his job security.
The Black Cats are bottom of the Premier League, just as Lech are at the foot of the Europa League standings.
Prediction
It has been a European campaign to forget for Lech Poznan but things may get marginally better when Sunderland visit.
That is not to say they will win — a pair of 4-0 defeats would make even Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona unappealing. They can, however, keep things tighter, with the Black Cats having far less potency than either Bayer Leverkusen or Crystal Palace.
Sunderland were hardly free-flowing when beating Portuguese second-tier outfit Torreense 2-1 last time out in Europe and the likely absence of Brobbey and Isidor leaves them short of firepower again.
Goals could be at a premium and, dovetailing with that, the corners should rack up as Lech defend doggedly and Sunderland get frustrated.
Four of the Black Cats’ last five games have featured at least 11 corners and a high flag-kick tally appeals.
Sunderland will have to force the issue as Lech sit deep and Nilson Angulo could be key to their chances. The Ecuadorian has managed two shots on target in just 81 Europa League minutes and will be a big threat from wide.
