Sunderland rounded off their pre-season programme against Stade Rennais at the Stadium of Light, giving Régis Le Bris one final opportunity to assess his squad before attention turned fully towards the serious business. The Black Cats went into the game on the back of an encouraging 2-0 win away at RC Lens, where Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor were on target. Rennes provided another useful test against strong French opposition after Sunderland's remarkable first season back in the Premier League.
What happened?
One of the more obvious changes at the Stadium of Light could be spotted before a ball had even been kicked. The dugout area had undergone work during the summer, with Sunderland switching sides ahead of the new season. The home technical area had moved towards the North Stand side of the ground, meaning Le Bris and his staff were now stationed in what had traditionally been the away dugout.
Why it matters for Sunderland
The changes were also connected to Sunderland's return to European competition, with the technical areas altered to comply with UEFA requirements ahead of the Europa League campaign. It was another small but noticeable change around the Stadium of Light following plenty of work during the summer. Walls had been freshened up, areas around the ground had been improved, and the club continued preparing the stadium for the additional demands that came with Premier League and European football.
What comes next?
Le Bris made one change to the Sunderland side which had beaten Lens, with Thomas Meunier missing from the matchday squad. The Echo understands Meunier had picked up a minor knock in training. His absence meant Hume moved back into his more traditional right-back position, having been used further forward during pre-season, while Chemsdine Talbi came into the starting XI. Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete were also absent as expected with minor problems, although both were at the Stadium of Light watching their teammates. Romaine Mundle returned to the squad after missing the Lens victory with a minor ankle knock. Mundle's return also came against the backdrop of talks over a new Sunderland contract, with the winger on the brink of agreeing fresh terms.
Familiar faces around the Stadium of Light
There were several familiar faces inside the ground before kick-off. Former Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter was in attendance, while Eliezer Mayenda returned to the Stadium of Light following his summer move to Rennes. Mayenda started on the bench for the visitors, but his presence naturally attracted plenty of attention given his recent departure and his role in Sunderland's rise back towards the Premier League.
Sunderland are currently 7th in the Premier League, with 54 points from 38 games, and are 31 points behind leaders Arsenal. They have scored 42 goals and conceded 48, with a recent form of 4W-1D-0L. Their next fixture is against Ipswich Town on August 22nd. Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, and Thomas Meunier are currently sidelined with minor injuries.
