Preview
Ipswich Town and Sunderland meet at Portman Road on Saturday, August 22, in one of the more interesting fixtures of the opening Premier League weekend.
Ipswich finished second in the Championship last season, while Sunderland enjoyed an excellent return to the top flight in Premier League, finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League.
Ipswich Town Match Preview
Ipswich finishing second in the Championship with 84 points last season. Their previous Premier League campaign ended in relegation, so the club will be determined to avoid another difficult season in the top flight.
There has also been a major change in the dugout. Gary O’Neil is now in charge after Kieran McKenna’s departure, giving Ipswich a different approach heading into their return to the Premier League.
Jack Clarke will be one of the players to watch. The winger was Ipswich’s most productive route to goal, while Marcelino Núñez also had an important creative role after creating 68 chances and providing seven assists.
Playing at Portman Road could also be important. Ipswich will want to start the season positively, particularly against another newly promoted side.
Sunderland Match Preview
Sunderland were one of the surprise stories of the Premier League last season. After winning promotion, the Black Cats finished seventh in their first season back in the top flight and earned a place in the Europa League. Regis Le Bris’ team showed that they were capable of competing against established Premier League clubs, and they will now try to build on that success.
Sunderland have also added experience to their midfield, with Granit Xhaka among the players expected to play an important role. Up front, Brian Brobbey is a player Ipswich will need to watch closely. He scored seven league goals last season and gives Sunderland a physical presence in attack. He also scored in Sunderland’s final pre-season match against Rennes.
The main challenge for Sunderland will be managing the demands of a new season that includes European football.
Win Probability
| Match Details |
|---|
| Fixture: Ipswich Town vs Sunderland |
| Competition: Premier League – Round 01 |
| Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026 |
| Time: 15:00 BST |
| Venue: Portman Road |
| Ipswich Town Manager: Gary O’Neil |
| Sunderland Manager: Regis Le Bris |
| Referee: Farai Hallam |
Match Odds
| Outcome | Decimal | Fraction | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Town | 2.84 | 46/25 | 184 |
| Draw | 3.4 | 12/5 | 240 |
| Sunderland | 2.8 | 9/5 | 180 |
Predicted Line Up
Ipswich Town Formation 4-2-3-1
Sunderland Formation 4-2-3-1
Over/Under Goals Odds & Probability
| Market | Decimal | Fraction | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 0.5 | 1.08 | 2/25 | -1250 |
| Over 1.5 | 1.34 | 17/50 | -294.1 |
| Over 2.5 | 2.06 | 53/50 | 106 |
Anytime Goalscorer Probability
Ipswich Town Goalscorer Predictions
Sunderland Goalscorer Predictions
Goalscorer to Watch:
Jack Clarke – Ipswich Town
Jack Clarke looks like the standout goalscoring threat for Ipswich. The winger scored 16 goals last season, making him the club’s leading scorer. He also managed 24 shots on target, showing that he was not simply scoring from limited chances. Clarke’s ability to attack from wide areas could cause problems for Sunderland, particularly if Ipswich are able to give him space to run at the defence.
Brian Brobbey – Sunderland
Brian Brobbey is the main player to watch for Sunderland. The striker provides Sunderland with a strong physical presence in the final third. Ipswich’s defenders will need to be careful when Brobbey receives the ball inside the penalty area. Sunderland could look to use his strength and movement when attacking on the counter.
Both Team To Score (BTTS) Probability & Odds
| Market | Decimal | Fraction | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1.8 | 4/5 | -125 |
| No | 2.18 | 59/50 | 118 |
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland Prediction
This is one of the harder games to predict on the opening weekend. Ipswich have home advantage and will be desperate to make a good start, while Sunderland arrive with the confidence of a seventh-place Premier League finish last season.
Ipswich should have enough attacking quality to create chances, but Sunderland have shown that they can compete at this level. A close game looks more likely than a comfortable win for either side.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland
My Picks
| Picks | Confidence |
| Over 0.5 Goals | High |
| Over 1.5 Goals | Medium |
Tip: If the match is 0-0 at half-time, consider Over 1.5 Goals in the second half at the higher odds, as the game could open up after the break.
