Aston Villa vs Sunderland – Match preview and team news

TL;DR

Aston Villa faces Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday after a strong Europa League performance. Villa has struggled domestically this year, while Sunderland comes in with two consecutive wins against top teams.

Key points

Aston Villa returns to Premier League action on Sunday
Villa thrashed Bologna 4-0 in the Europa League
Sunderland has back-to-back wins against Newcastle and Tottenham
Villa's domestic form has been inconsistent in 2026
Sunderland is in a comfortable mid-table position

Aston VillaSunderlandBolognaNewcastle United

Aston Villa vs Sunderland – Match preview and team news

Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon following a dominant midweek display in Europe.

Unai Emery’s side recently thrashed Bologna 4–0 at Villa Park to secure a Europa League semi-final berth. They have won 10 of their first 11 matches in that competition this season. However, their domestic form in 2026 has been noticeably less consistent than their clinical European displays. The Villans have collected just 16 points from 13 league games since the turn of the year.

Sunderland, meanwhile, arrive in the West Midlands full of confidence after recording back-to-back victories against elite opposition. The Black Cats recently defeated both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur to move into a comfortable mid-table position.

Régis Le Bris has successfully guided the promoted side away from any potential relegation scrap this term. They now seek three consecutive top-flight wins for the first time since May 2014. Consequently, this clash represents a significant test for Villa’s top-five ambitions.