Sunderland's predicted Europa League finish after AZ Alkmaar and Torreense wins
Sunderland are one of ten sides with a perfect record from their first two games of the league phase of this season’s Europa League.
Sunderland left it late to claim a narrow win at Torreense on Thursday night and ensured they maintained their perfect start to their historic Europa League campaign.
Some questionable decisions from the officials, a challenging pitch and a hardworking home side meant it was an awkward night for Regis Le Bris and his players - and it became even more difficult when Volnei Feltes put the hosts in front eight minutes before half-time. However, Jules Ahoka’s first goal for Sunderland got his side back on level-terms midway through the second-half and, as they have so many times in the past, the Black Cats kept going to the end and grabbed all three points thanks to an injury-time strike from Noah Sadiki.
The win in Portugal ensured Le Bris’ men built on their home win against AZ Alkmaar on matchday one of the campaign and they will now head into next Thursday’s trip to Lech Poznan as one of ten sides boasting perfect records from their opening two games. It also means Sunderland are firmly in the race to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition - but where are the Black Cats predicted to finish when the league phase of UEFA’s secondary club competition comes to a close in late-January?
The Echo takes a look at the latest predicted final Europa League table produced by the stats experts at Opta - and it’s safe to say it makes for positive reading for Sunderland fans.
Opta’s predicted final Europa League table
1. Benfica - 18.60 points
2. Bournemouth - 17.94 points
3. Bayer Leverkusen - 17.75 points
4. Juventus - 16.86 points
5. Sunderland - 16.75 points
6. Olympiakos - 16.21 points
7. Lyon - 15.69 points
8. Ferencvaros - 15.11 points
9. Real Union Saint-Gilloise - 15.00 points
10. Omonia Nicosia - 14.34 points
11. Crystal Palace - 14.20 points
12. Besiktas - 13.61 points
13. Rennes - 13.00 points
14. AC Milan - 12.94 points
15. Dinamo Zagreb - 12.07 points
16. AZ Alkmaar - 11.03 points
17. RB Salzburg - 11.00 points
18. Sparta - 10.44 points
19. Real Sociedad - 10.10 points
20. Sturm Graz - 9.01 points
21. Jagiellonia - 8.66 points
22. Marseille - 8.64 points
23. Anderlecht - 8.63 points
24. Celta Vigo - 8.48 points
25. Levski Sofia - 8.12 points
26. Lech Poznan - 8.12 points
27. OFI Crete - 7.76 points
28. Torreense - 7.38 points
29. Hoffenheim - 7.35 points
30. Celtic - 7.24 points
31. NEC - 7.06 points
32. Viktoria Plzen - 6.90 points
33. Hapoel Be’er Sheva - 6.67 points
34. Ararat-Armenia - 6.14 points
35. Lillestrom - 5.91 points
36. Celje - 5.78 points
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