Phil Smith: Memories to last a lifetime already made - now time for Sunderland to strengthen Europa League grip
Sunderland host Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League tonight.
The opening weeks of Sunderland's European adventure were surreal, to say the least.
The red-and-white takeover of Leiria in the glorious Portuguese sun was beyond the wildest dreams of supporters who had travelled, while Poznan provided perhaps the slightly more authentic Europa League atmosphere they had anticipated when qualification was secured last May.
AZ Alkmaar's visit to Wearside, meanwhile, was a hugely emotional occasion as the Stadium of Light finally got the night it had been built for. We may only be three games in, but memories to last a lifetime have already been made.
The giddiness and the excitement, however, has been slightly offset by Sunderland's league form and what fans had hoped would be a year-long party has so far come with a little more anxiety than bargained for. There has been little in any of Sunderland's European games so far, but the upshot is that the Black Cats have left themselves exceptionally well placed heading into the next stage of the league phase.
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They have taken seven points from three and though they still have their two toughest away games in terms of UEFA's seeding to play, the win over Alkmaar means Sunderland have faced their highest-seeded opponent at home. Dinamo Zagreb were placed in pot two and so will offer a stern test, but the Black Cats now have three home games in to capitalise on their very strong start.
The points on the board mean it would take a dramatic turn of events for Sunderland to not reach the knockout round at the very least, while a place in the top eight at the end of the league phase and a bye to the last sixteen is now a distinct possibility. Crucially, the strong start means that Régis Le Bris will not have to deviate from the selection strategy he has pursued in the opening weeks of the tournament.
Though against AZ Alkmaar and Lech Poznan he did field a number of senior players, so far he has rotated wherever possible and carefully managed the minutes of players such as Brian Brobbey and Nordi Mukiele. Though Sunderland cannot afford to take any of their opponents for granted even on home turf, Le Bris will feel he has seen enough in the games so far and certainly in the end results to continue with a policy that prioritises freshness in the Premier League on a Sunday.
With huge fixtures week on week, that could yet be crucial in the final equation across both competitions. Dinamo Zagreb's visit to the Stadium of Light will bring with it a slightly surreal feeling of its own, a European fixture at home that won't even feel like a novelty and instead the start of a new normal for the time being.
Fans will hope that an upturn in Premier League form will allow them to embrace this adventure a little more wholeheartedly, but the strength of the position Sunderland have put themselves in shouldn't be overlooked. Now, time to take advantage.