Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Sunderland
Match Time & Date:
16 August 2025
15:00
Prediction: 1-0
West Ham
Sunderland will try to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano when they kickstart the new Premier League campaign with a home game against West Ham. The newcomers are determined to secure the Premier League survival, but they face a difficult task in the English top flight. A man to watch in the home team will be former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who is expected to be the leader of this team. The club chiefs have signed the likes of Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra, Enzo Le Fee, Chemsdine Talbi, and Noah Sadiki in the summer transfer window as well.
The Hammers, on the other hand, defeated Lille on penalties in their last friendly game. Summer recruit El Hadji Malick Diouf is widely expected to make his Premier League debut against Sunderland, while pacey winger Crysencio Summerville misses the season opener with a hamstring problem. Anyhow, home win should be considered as atmosphere at Stadium of Light will be electrifying on Sunderland’s return to the elite division.
Highlighted Player (Tomas Soucek):
Tomas Soucek is a Czech Republic international who plays for both Slavia Prague and the Czech national team. Soucek is a product of Slavia Prague football academy and after spending several years at the likes of Viktoria Zizkov and Slovan Liberec, he returned to the Sinobo Stadium outfit in the 2017/2018 season.
Tomas Soucek has established himself as a first-team regular at Slavia Prague and he made his debut with Czech Republic on November 15, 2016 in a friendly against Denmark. The 192-cm tall midfielder has 13 caps for Czech Republic U21 team as well.
His main position on the field is defensive midfield, but he is used as central midfielder and centre-back as well. Tomas Soucek was born in Havlickuv Brod on February 27, 1995. His preferred foot is right and his contract with Slavia Prague should expire on June 30, 2024.
Highlighted Team (Sunderland):
Sunderland are a professional football club that have been playing their home games at the Stadium of Light since 1997. The capacity of the stadium is 49,000, but before expansion the original ground capacity was 42,000. Red and White shirts are Sunderland’s trademark and the club’s fiercest rivals are Newcastle United. The two local rivals have been contesting in the Tyne-Wear derby since 1898 and there have always been fireworks in what is one of the greatest derbies in English football. Sunderland were on the verge of dropping to the Championship in the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign, but experienced tactician Sam Allardyce eventually helped the team avoid relegation.
The Black Cats have won six First Division trophies (now the Premier League), with the team lifting two FA Cup titles. Sunderland won their first FA Cup trophy in 1937, with the team beating Preston North End 3-1 in the title game. The club was founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C.
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