Sunderland face a key Europa League trip to Lech Poznan on Thursday evening, seeking a positive result after a difficult domestic start. The Black Cats are currently bottom of the Premier League, sitting 20th with just four points from their opening seven matches, having managed just one win and a draw.
That result extended a concerning league run, which has seen them lose four and draw one of their last five domestic games, but Sunderland's European form has offered a brighter note. They secured a 2-1 comeback victory away to Torreense in their last continental fixture, with late goals from Jules Ahoka and Noah Sadiki turning the game around.
Poznan's recent struggles
Lech Poznan will also be looking to bounce back from heavy defeats. The Polish side were beaten 4-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen in their last Europa League outing and suffered an identical loss to Crystal Palace in September. Their most recent line-up featured players like midfielder Murawski and forward Ishak.
Sunderland's selection for the Bournemouth game saw Roefs in goal behind a back four of Nordi Mukiele, Danso, Alderete and Reinildo. Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki anchored the midfield, supporting an attacking trio of Hume, Rigg and Le Fée, with Timur Tuterov leading the line.
Domestic concerns loom
While European progress is the immediate focus, the club's Premier League position is a pressing concern. They are 17 points adrift of leaders Manchester City and have conceded 14 goals while scoring only six, giving them a goal difference of negative eight. Their recent form across all competitions shows two wins and three losses from their last five outings.
Top scorer Brian Brobbey, with three goals in five appearances this season, will be a key figure if Sunderland are to find a cutting edge in Poland. The team must channel the resilience shown against Torreense to handle a difficult period on two fronts.
