Ipswich Town makes a top-flight return, facing Sunderland in the opening round of the Premier League 2026/27. The match kicks off on Saturday 22 August at 15:00 (GMT) at Portman Road.
Both sides will be eager for a strong start to the new Premier League season. Ipswich did the double over Sunderland when they last met in the Championship, setting the stage for an intriguing prediction for Ipswich vs. Sunderland. A tense and competitive encounter is expected from the outset.
Find out where to watch the match and what our expert predictions are, as well as the expected lineups for today’s encounter.
Match Overview - Ipswich vs. Sunderland
- Ipswich returns to the Premier League, aiming for a positive home start following a strong pre-season.
- Sunderland typically begins new campaigns well, having won their last two opening league matches and ending the previous season strongly.
- The last ten head-to-head games are evenly balanced, though Ipswich holds a psychological edge from winning both recent Championship encounters.
Head-to-Head Record
- In the last ten encounters, the record is perfectly even, with both Ipswich and Sunderland claiming four victories alongside two draws.
- However, Ipswich have the recent edge, winning the last two meetings against the Black Cats, both with a 2-1 score.
- The Tractor Boys are now aiming to secure a third consecutive league win over Sunderland for the first time in their history.
- Sunderland have managed to keep a clean sheet in two of the last six head-to-head clashes.
- The last ten matches have produced an average of 2.6 goals per game.
Ipswich Town: Riding a Wave of Pre-Season Confidence
Ipswich Town enters the Premier League 2026 season following a strong pre-season. They won four consecutive friendly matches, beating Union Berlin and Rayo Vallecano. However, their final friendly saw a 0-2 loss to Oxford United.
Defender Issa Diop noted the squad is “getting better and better,” building a positive team dynamic. Translating this pre-season momentum into competitive league success is now their key challenge.
The Tractor Boys have a fully available squad with no reported injuries. Playing at Portman Road for their Premier League 2026 opener will be a significant motivator, as they aim for a powerful start.
Sunderland: Starting the Season on the Front Foot
Sunderland enter the new season with momentum, having won their last two Premier League games. The Black Cats enjoy strong starts, winning their opening fixture in the last two seasons. Their pre-season was also positive, featuring victories over both Rennes and Lens.
This good form is boosted by the fact they have no injury concerns. With a fully available squad, the manager has his best options for the trip to Portman Road, a significant advantage for the opening day.
Given their recent results and a clean bill of health, Sunderland will be confident. They aim to make it three opening-day wins on the bounce, posing a tough challenge.
Ipswich vs. Sunderland Prediction: Tractor Boys to Avoid Defeat
Ipswich returns to the Premier League with momentum, having won their last two encounters against Sunderland. With a strong pre-season behind them, considering a draw at half-time could be an interesting option for this match.
Sunderland, however, are tough opponents and have started their last two seasons with a victory. Given the attacking quality on both sides, a goal in the first half seems highly probable for this competitive encounter.
Despite Sunderland’s good starting record, Ipswich’s recent head-to-head dominance and home advantage give them the edge. Therefore, our main prediction is for Ipswich to avoid defeat in the "1X Double Chance" market this Saturday.
  | ||
| Best Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Money Line | A draw at half-time | |
| Over/Under | Over 0.5 goals in the first half | |
The odds mentioned were collected during the writing of this prediction and may change. Always check with the bookmaker for the latest information.
Where to Watch Ipswich vs. Sunderland
For fans wondering where to watch Ipswich vs. Sunderland, there is currently no live broadcast scheduled.
- TV: no broadcast scheduled
- Streaming: no broadcast scheduled
Ipswich vs. Sunderland Predicted Lineups
As we look ahead to this Premier League 2026 fixture, the tactical approaches from both managers will be key. The probable Ipswich lineup will need to find the right balance to assert themselves early on in the competition. Similarly, the expected Sunderland lineup will be structured to counter their opponent’s strategy and gain control of the game. Both sides know that a strong start in this opening-round match could set the tone for their respective seasons.
Ipswich
K. Scherpen; Leif Davis, J. Greaves, Issa Diop, Emersonn; J. Clarke, S. Lukić, M. Nuñez; Anis Mehmeti, S. Egeli, Daizen Maeda. Manager: Gary O’Neil.
Sunderland
Robin Roefs; T. Hume, D. Ballard, C. Talbi, Reinildo; Sadiki, Granit Xhaka, E. Le Fée, A. Browne; Angulo, Brian Brobbey.
Match Details
Here are the match details:
- Match: Ipswich vs. Sunderland
- Competition: Premier League 2026/27
- Date: 22/08/2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 (GMT)
- Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich, England
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