Sporting CP vs Sunderland Prediction 21.07.2025 | Club Friendly

• Competition: Club Friendly
• Date: Monday, 21st, July 2025
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: Estadio Algarve (Faro/Loule)

Sporting CP continue their summer preparations with a Monday clash against Premier League newcomers Sunderland AFC at Estadio Algarve.

The buildup to the 2025-26 campaign hasn’t gone smoothly for Sporting CP, who exposed cracks at the back and looked disjointed in attack without their Swedish talisman Viktor Gyokeres, as they were comfortably swept aside 2-0 by Celtic on home soil.

Having clinched Premier League promotion through the Championship playoffs, Sunderland kicked off their warm-up schedule on a positive note by dismantling South Shields 4-0 and then showing grit against Sevilla despite surrendering a last-gasp leveller to settle for a draw.

Sporting CP vs Sunderland Betting Tips : UNDER 2.5

Both sides approach this clash with contrasting objectives, as Sporting CP are using the fixture to experiment with attacking combinations in the absence of star striker Gyokeres who edges closer to a move to Arsenal, while Sunderland are focused on bedding in their summer signings and fine-tuning their tactical structure under Regis Le Bris. With the backing of their home crowd in Alverede, Sporting CP enter the match as favourites, yet the absence of their Swedish talisman and the presence of a rotated lineup offer Sunderland a real window of opportunity to test the mettle of the Portuguese champions. Even though the result might not be the top priority, a competitive edge is still expected, especially from the English side eager to make a statement ahead of their Premier League return, though there’s a sense this could turn into a cagey and rhythmically restrained affair. With the Portuguese side missing key attacking threats and the Black Cats likely to prioritize defensive structure and space management, the conditions are ripe for a low-scoring affair that may struggle to cross the 2.5-goal threshold.