Sunderland marked their return to European competition with a win at home against AZ Alkmaar. The match, described as a morale-boosting result for manager Régis Le Bris, was decided by a single goal in the second half. Enzo Le Fée, who was identified as the standout performer of the match, successfully converted a penalty to secure the victory.

Following the match, Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka suggested that the team has the potential to progress deep into the tournament, potentially reaching the final in Frankfurt. However, the team's performance was not without criticism. Observers noted that Sunderland struggled with their finishing throughout the evening, suggesting that the team will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to sustain a long run in the competition. While the result was positive, the match highlighted a need for increased efficiency in the final third to compete against higher-level European opposition.