Sunderland not looking past Ipswich test ahead of European adventure

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Sunderland defender Trai Hume insists they are not distracted by their European campaign ahead of their Premier League opener against Ipswich Town.

The Black Cats finished seventh in their first season back in the top flight last term, securing a place in the 2026-27 Europa League.

It will be Sunderland’s first time competing in Europe since the 1973-74 Cup Winners’ Cup, and the league phase draw is set to take place on August 28.

Despite the European games ahead, Hume refused to look past their trip to newly promoted Ipswich this weekend.

“Pre-season has been good,” Hume told the club website.

“There has been a lot of travelling – going over to America and France – but we have to get used to that this season with us being in Europe.

“We will be travelling and playing games straight after, so we have to always be ready.

“We are focused on the next game now, and that’s Ipswich. We will take each game as it comes this season.

“The last two games have given us a taste of what we could face in Europe this year, but it’s all about preparing for next weekend at Ipswich.”

Learning and preparing  pic.twitter.com/ySxIDlGLd4

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 20, 2026

Ipswich have been busy in the transfer market ahead of their Premier League return, bringing in the likes of Sasa Lukic, Daizen Maeda and Julio Enciso.

Enciso previously spent time on loan at Portman Road in the 2024-25 season, while he played under Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil at Strasbourg last term.

O’Neil was delighted to welcome Enciso back on a permanent move, especially after an impressive World Cup campaign from the Paraguayan.

“Supporters will already know what he is capable of, following his loan spell the last time we were in the Premier League, and for me I’m delighted to be working with him again after our time together at Strasbourg last season,” said O’Neil.

“He is a young player who is capable of creating something out of nothing and has shown that throughout his career, including at the World Cup in the summer. 

“We are delighted to have him with us and can’t wait to see him on the pitch.”

Chuba Akpom last played a Premier League game in February 2015 for Arsenal against Tottenham.

If he plays in this game, it will be the second-longest gap between appearances in the competition’s history (11 years, 196 days), after Cristiano Ronaldo’s 12 years and 118 days between 2009 and 2021.

Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor scored for Sunderland in their opening game win over West Ham last season.

The only players to score for the Black Cats on MD1 in back-to-back Premier League seasons are Darren Bent (2009-10 and 2010-11) and Jermain Defoe (2015-16 and2016-17).

MATCH PREDICTION – IPSWICH TOWN WIN

The last time Ipswich and Sunderland faced each other in the Premier League was in December 2001, a 5-0 victory for the Tractor Boys in what was their biggest win in the competition.

Ipswich also did the double over Sunderland when they last met in the 2023-24 Championship campaign; they have never won three consecutive league games against the Black Cats before.

However, Ipswich have lost their opening game in each of their last four Premier League campaigns (1994-95, 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2024-25) since a 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic in 1993-94.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have won their opening league game in each of the last two seasons, beating Cardiff in 2024-25 and West Ham in 2025-26. The Black Cats last did so in three consecutive campaigns between 1950-51 and 1952-53.

Ipswich and Sunderland have met in the opening league game of the season in two previous top-flight campaigns – in 1981-82 they shared a 3-3 draw with the Tractor Boys ending the season in second, while in 2001-02 the Black Cats won 1-0 in a season where Ipswich were relegated.

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