Sunderland and Coventry seek place in the English Second Division Play-off final

One of the most traditional teams in England, Sunderland, will be fighting this Tuesday, 13/5, at 4 pm (Brasília time), for a place in the final of the playoffs of the Second Division of the English Championship. At home, at the Stadium of Light, they will host Coventry City. As they won the first leg 2-1, they only need a draw to guarantee their place in the final, where they will face Sheffield United, who eliminated Bristol City in the other semi-final.

To understand: in the Championship (English Second Division), which has 24 teams, the top two teams go straight to the top flight. This season, they were Leeds United (champion, with 100 points) and Burnley (runner-up, also with 100 points). The teams that finish between 3rd and 6th place compete in the playoffs for the last spot in the 2025/26 Premier League. Thus, the clashes were: Sunderland (4th) x Coventry (5th) and Sheffield United (3rd) x Bristol City (6th).

The game between Sunderland and Coventry will be broadcast on ESPN4 and Disney+ from 4pm (Brasília time).

Sunderland favorite

Sunderland, whose star player is young Jobe Bellingham — the younger brother of Jude Bellingham, an England and Real Madrid player — finished the regular season in 4th place, with 76 points. As a result, they had the advantage of deciding the match against 5th-placed Coventry (69 points) at home. The team is one of the biggest in the north of England and has been English champion six times: 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95, 1901-02, 1912-13 and 1935-36. Sunderland's last appearance in the top flight was in the 2016/17 season, when they finished last. They are Newcastle United's biggest rivals.

Sheffield United are finalists

On Monday, Sheffield United confirmed their favoritism against Bristol City. After winning away from home 3-0 in the first leg, they beat their rivals again by the same score in the return leg. The goals were scored by Kieffer Moore, Hammer and O'Hara. Sheffield arrives at the final as the team with the best campaign among those qualified for the playoffs, having finished the regular phase in 3rd place, with 90 points. Bristol City was in 6th place, with 68 points.

Sheffield United are now one game away from returning to the top flight of English football. The club, once champions of England (in 1897/98), were relegated last season when they finished bottom with just 16 points - one of the worst campaigns in Premier League history.

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