Looking to escape the stresses of the Championship into the Premier League, Sheffield United and Sunderland clash in the playoff final at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
Relegated from the top flight just 12 months ago, the Blades are looking to bounce back at the first attempt despite missing out on automatic promotion to Leeds and Burnley.
Meanwhile, the Black Cats have known their playoff-competing fate for some time now, aiming to enter the top division for the first time in eight years.
Regis Le Bris's side advanced to this stage after a gruelling two-legged affair against Coventry City, with Sunderland netting a late winner to knock the Sky Blues out of Premier League contention.
On the contrary, Sheffield United cruised into the richest game in football this weekend, beating a sorry Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Sheffield United and Sunderland ahead of Saturday's seismic clash in the capital.
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Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 148
Sheff Utd wins: 54
Draws: 26
Sunderland wins: 68
With both teams founded in the late 19th century, there have been plenty of meetings between Sheffield United and Sunderland ahead of a playoff final this weekend.
The Yorkshire and North-East outfits have met on a staggering 148 occasions, with most of their contests arriving in the old Division One.
Sunderland have the upper-hand in the head-to-head record boasting 68 wins, whilst Sheffield United have enjoyed success in this fixture on 54 occasions.
The first match between Sheffield United and Sunderland arrived during the second round of the FA Cup in February 1893, with the Black Cats securing a 3-1 triumph.
Later in the same year the two clubs would enjoy their maiden league clash, with the Blades winning by just the single goal near the start of the 1893-94 term.
Although often closely-fought affairs, some matches between the sides have seen blowouts, with Sunderland winning this fixture 6-1 back in September 1925.
There have also been some enthralling encounters for neutrals, with the teams playing out eight-goal thrillers in 1907 and 1923, with the Blades and the Black Cats each picking up 5-3 victories.
Despite their relative histories in the top flight, there is yet to be a Premier League battle between Sheffield United and Sunderland, with most of the recent encounters occurring in the Championship.
The Blades have won five and lost three of their last eight competitive fixtures with the North-East club, including a 2019 bout in the EFL Cup.
Sunderland came out on top of the most recent meeting in May 2025, when a late Tommy Watson goal secured promotion to the Premier League for the Black Cats in the Championship playoff final.
Last 20 meetings
May 24, 2025: Sheff Utd 1-2 Sunderland (Championship Playoff Final)
Jan 01, 2025: Sunderland 2-1 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Nov 29, 2024: Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
Mar 15, 2023: Sunderland 1-2 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Aug 17, 2022: Sheff Utd 2-1 Sunderland (Championship)
Sep 25, 2019: Sheff Utd 0-1 Sunderland (EFL Cup Third Round)
Dec 26, 2017: Sheff Utd 3-0 Sunderland (Championship)
Sep 09, 2017: Sunderland 1-2 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Jan 22, 2005: Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Sep 28, 2004: Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
Apr 09, 2004: Sunderland 3-0 Sheff Utd (First Division)
Mar 07, 2004: Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Utd (FA Cup Quarter-Finals)
Oct 04, 2003: Sheff Utd 0-1 Sunderland (First Division)
Dec 03, 2002: Sheff Utd 2-0 Sunderland (EFL Cup Fourth Round)
Apr 24, 1999: Sunderland 0-0 Sheff Utd (First Division)
Nov 28, 1998: Sheff Utd 0-4 Sunderland (First Division)
May 13, 1998: Sunderland 2-0 Sheff Utd (First Division Playoffs Semi-Final Second Leg)
May 10, 1998: Sheff Utd 2-1 Sunderland (First Division Playoffs Semi-Final First Leg)
Jan 10, 1998: Sunderland 4-2 Sheff Utd (First Division)
Aug 10, 1997: Sheff Utd 2-0 Sunderland (First Division)
Last nine Championship meetings
May 24, 2025: Sheff Utd 1-2 Sunderland (Championship Playoff Final)
Jan 01, 2025: Sunderland 2-1 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Nov 29, 2024: Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
Mar 15, 2023: Sunderland 1-2 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Aug 17, 2022: Sheff Utd 2-1 Sunderland (Championship)
Dec 26, 2017: Sheff Utd 3-0 Sunderland (Championship)
Sep 09, 2017: Sunderland 1-2 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Jan 22, 2005: Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Utd (Championship)
Sep 28, 2004: Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
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Carter White
