Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday Prediction: Both won in their opening game

Sunderland will host Sheffield Wednesday at Stadium of Light in the Game Week 2 of the English Championship. The two teams won in their opening game in the championship. Who will walk away victorious after 90 minutes?

Following a 16th-placed finish in the Championship last season, Sunderland have set their sights on a top-six finish this term. They began their campaign with a convincing win against Cardiff City in South Wales last weekend.

Wearing the captain's armband with pride, Luke O'Nien opened his account for 2024-25 inside the first 20 minutes. Then, in the second half, Jack Clarke compounded Cardiff's misery by hitting one of his trademark runs and strikes to seal a solid 2-0 win for the Black Cats.

However, a second-string Sunderland struggled in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night as they were defeated 2-0 by Preston North End at Deepdale. Ryan Ledson and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen's goals ensured it would be Preston who progressed into the second round, underlining the need for Sunderland to focus on squad depth.

That means that, despite the midweek setback, Sunderland's opening weekend win places them fifth in the early Championship standings. They will drop out of the playoff positions temporarily, with other teams playing their fixtures on Friday and Saturday before the Black Cats on Sunday.

In a significant development, Sunderland confirmed that Premier League-bound Jobe Bellingham signed a new deal until the summer of 2028. The update is a statement of intent for the North-East club in their efforts to gain promotion this campaign.

Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Alese, Cirkin; Browne, Neil; Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke; Mayenda

Having escaped relegation at the expense of Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, and Rotherham United last term, the Wednesdayites go into the fray this Championship season looking to have a competitive shout at the top end. Their opening fixture provided plenty of cause for optimism.

The biggest winners on the opening weekend of the new second-tier campaign were the Owls, who put Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle to bed with a 4-0 win in front of a raucous Hillsborough. The hosts had 33 shots and 4.68 expected goals in a dominant 90-minute display.

Making his competitive debut for Sheffield Wednesday following his summer switch from Premier League Bournemouth, Jamal Lowe found the net against the helpless Green Army in front of jubilant home supporters to mark his 300th league career appearance in goalscoring fashion.

Another of the Owls' new hitmen stole the headlines on Wednesday evening, bringing superb strikes from former Manchester United academy prospect Charlie McNeill to send Sheffield Wednesday into the second round of the EFL Cup at the expense of Championship rivals Hull City.

Before what looks a winnable-based tie in that tournament, against League Two side Grimsby Town, on the 27th of August, Rohl's men will have to go through 2 long games against Championship clubs that aim for a place in the English first division, and in such style, host Sunderland and Leeds United coached by Daniel Farke. 

Patterson; Taylor, Flanagan, Alves, Dyce; O'Nien, Gooch, Neil, Diamond, Stewart; Stewart

Sheffield Wednesday should take confidence in winning 2-0 at the Stadium of Light back in May and repeat the trick once again this Sunday against Sunderland.

Yet the Black Cats, while sweeping away all before them under Regis Le Bris, look improved and could have enough fuel in the tank to ensure a share of the points up in the North East.