Carrarese have never beaten Sassuolo and probably never will. • Sassuolo's U20s playing a U19 side tells you everything about how deep their talent pool runs. • Arteta's told the redundancies are about success, which is a funny way of saying Arsenal couldn't afford to keep losing money. • Cagliari-Pescara stats columns exist to fill space when nothing interesting is happening. • Bristol City and Sheffield United will play the kind of match that makes you check your phone more than the scoreline. Carrarese have never beaten Sassuolo and probably never will. • Sassuolo's U20s playing a U19 side tells you everything about how deep their talent pool runs. • Arteta's told the redundancies are about success, which is a funny way of saying Arsenal couldn't afford to keep losing money. • Cagliari-Pescara stats columns exist to fill space when nothing interesting is happening. • Bristol City and Sheffield United will play the kind of match that makes you check your phone more than the scoreline.

EPL

Sunderland begin historic European campaign with battling AZ Alkmaar win

By WAF News Desk September 17, 2026 3:45 am Updated September 19, 2026 12:50 am 1 min read

Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar: Enzo Le Fee’s second-half penalty ensured the Black Cats notched a victory in their first European match for 53 years

WAF Context

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Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in their first European match in 53 years. Enzo Le Fée converted a second-half penalty to settle the contest. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs made crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet during a battling performance against the Dutch side.

What we know

Le Fée's penalty secured victory in Sunderland's Europa League opener
The win marked their return to European competition after 53 years
Roefs produced important saves to deny AZ chances in both halves

Why it matters

Sunderland's historic return to European football represents a significant milestone for the club. A winning start provides momentum for their European campaign and demonstrates defensive resilience against a Eredivisie side that won domestic cup honours last season.

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