Date of Tips: 20/08/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (11:05 20/08/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Ipswich Town FC
v Sunderland AFC 
Portman Road
Premier League Matchday 1 
22-08-2026 14:00
Sunderland Form
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland prediction points towards a closely fought start to the 2026/27 Premier League season when the two sides meet at Portman Road on Saturday, 22 August. Kick-off is at 3:00 pm BST, with newly promoted Ipswich looking to make home advantage count against a Sunderland side returning from an impressive seventh-place finish.
There is plenty of intrigue here. Ipswich have a new manager in Gary O’Neil and several summer additions to integrate, while Sunderland arrive with greater recent Premier League experience and a squad that has remained relatively settled under Régis Le Bris. A tight contest looks more likely than either side running away with it.
This is Matchweek 1 of the Premier League season, with Portman Road hosting Ipswich’s return to the top flight after automatic promotion from the Championship.
O’Neil begins his competitive reign knowing survival will be the immediate priority. Sunderland have different expectations after finishing seventh last season, although Europa League football will add another demand to their schedule.
Both teams naturally start the campaign on zero points, so there is no meaningful league-table pressure yet. The bigger question is which side settles fastest on opening weekend.
The match kicks off at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
It will not be shown live on television or streamed in the UK because of the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout. International coverage includes Peacock in the United States, DAZN in Canada and Stan Sport in Australia.
Local club audio coverage is also expected to be available.
Ipswich have midfield concerns. Jack Taylor is unavailable through injury, while Azor Matusiwa has been working back towards fitness and could potentially make the bench.
There are no suspensions. Summer arrivals Sasa Lukic, Abdoul Ouattara and Emersonn give O’Neil several new options as he shapes his first Premier League side.
Sunderland have no confirmed long-term absentees. Thomas Meunier is a major doubt because of a minor back problem, while Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele are being assessed after minor strains.
That uncertainty around Meunier is worth watching because he features in the predicted starting XI.
Ipswich Town predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Scherpen; Furlong, O’Shea, Diop, Davis; Núñez, Lukic; Fatawu, Egeli, Maeda; Emersonn.
Sunderland predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Meunier, O’Nien, Ballard, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fée, Angulo; Brobbey.
Meunier’s fitness remains uncertain, so Sunderland may need to make a late change on the right side of defence.
Ipswich ended their Championship campaign strongly enough to secure automatic promotion. Their supplied late-season results include a 2-1 away win at Charlton, followed by draws at West Brom and Southampton.
Their home numbers are encouraging too. Ipswich have won 60% of their last 10 home matches and have averaged 2.20 goals per game at Portman Road over the supplied sample.
Sunderland’s final five competitive matches produced one win, two draws and two defeats. They finished with an impressive 3-1 victory at Everton after drawing with Manchester United and Wolves.
There were also heavier setbacks against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, which underlines why this opening fixture is difficult to call despite Sunderland’s top-flight continuity.
The recent overall head-to-head is remarkably balanced, with four wins each and two draws across the last 10 meetings.
Ipswich did, however, win both Championship clashes in 2023/24, beating Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light before repeating that scoreline at Portman Road.
Those meetings are now more than two years old and both squads have changed, so they should not be treated as decisive evidence.
Ipswich have won 60% of their last 10 home matches and have averaged 2.20 goals per home game.
Sunderland have an 80% win rate across their supplied recent away sample and scored an average of 2.80 goals in those matches.
Both teams have scored in 60% of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.
One match model places the probability of under 2.5 goals at 54.7%, which fits the wider expectation of a relatively tight opening-day contest.
There is little between these teams. Ipswich have the lift of being back in the Premier League and should be competitive at Portman Road, while Sunderland possess greater continuity at this level and a strong recent away record.
The safest match-result prediction is the draw. Ipswich look capable of making home advantage count enough to avoid defeat, but Sunderland have enough quality through players such as Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey to prevent the hosts taking complete control.
Match Result Prediction: Draw. Bet with bet365.
Both sides have reasonable routes to goal. Ipswich’s home scoring record from last season is encouraging, while Sunderland finished their campaign by scoring three away at Everton.
BTTS has also landed in 60% of the supplied last 10 meetings between these clubs. That does not guarantee a repeat, but it supports the view that one goal apiece is realistic.
For more on this market, our BTTS tips cover the main factors worth considering.
BTTS Prediction: Both Teams To Score – Yes. Bet with bet365.
A high-scoring game is possible given the attacking numbers supplied for both sides, but opening fixtures can be cagey and the existing statistical modelling slightly favours fewer than three goals.
With the overall preview leaning towards 1-1, under 2.5 goals is the preferred line.
Over/Under Goals Prediction: Under 2.5 goals. Bet with bet365.
Ipswich should get opportunities at home, but Sunderland’s greater recent experience at Premier League level makes it difficult to confidently back the hosts.
A goal each fits the expected balance of the match and remains consistent with both the BTTS and under 2.5 goals selections.
Correct Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland. Bet with bet365.
Brian Brobbey is the standout candidate. He is expected to lead Sunderland’s attack and is identified as their main central goal threat.
There are no supplied scoring statistics that justify making this a strong selection, but his expected position at the head of the Sunderland XI makes him the most natural choice.
First Goalscorer Prediction: Brian Brobbey. Bet with bet365.
Ipswich should have periods of attacking pressure at home, while Sunderland possess enough quality to carry a threat themselves. A competitive game in which neither side completely dominates could still produce a healthy number of attacking situations.
Corners Prediction: Over 8.5 total corners. Bet with bet365.
An opening-day fixture between a newly promoted home side and an established Sunderland team should be competitive, particularly if the score remains close. That makes a moderate cards line preferable to anything aggressive.
Cards Prediction: Over 3.5 total cards. Bet with bet365.
The main themes point towards a close match rather than a comfortable victory for either side. Combining Sunderland or draw with under 3.5 total goals keeps the bet builder aligned with that expected game state without relying entirely on the exact 1-1 scoreline.
Bet Builder Tip: Sunderland or draw, under 3.5 total goals, and Brian Brobbey to score anytime. Bet with bet365.
Ipswich should be competitive on their Premier League return, particularly with Portman Road behind them, but Sunderland’s continuity and established top-flight core make them difficult to oppose completely.
The draw therefore stands out, with both sides capable of scoring without the game necessarily developing into a high-scoring contest.
Final prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland.
Best match-result tip: Draw.
Goals prediction: Under 2.5 goals.
BTTS prediction: Yes.
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Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
A draw is the main prediction. Ipswich have home advantage, but Sunderland’s Premier League continuity should make this extremely competitive.
Kick-off is at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
The game is not available for live television or streaming in the UK because of the Saturday 3pm blackout. Peacock, DAZN Canada and Stan Sport are among the supplied international broadcasters.
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