The FA Cup 3rd round takes centre stage this weekend with a couple of intriguing ties to look forward to – but none more so than the renewal of the Wear-Tyne derby.
Old foes Sunderland and Newcastle will lock horns at the Stadium of Light for the first time in eight years on Saturday afternoon.
The North East derby is not one for the faint hearted, and the cup clash provides the perfect platform for fans to enjoy what is expected to be a fine spectacle.
Since their last meeting, the clubs have moved in very different directions. The Magpies have recently enjoyed their first UEFA Champions League journey since 2003.
In contrast, the Black Cats had endured four seasons in England’s third tier but are now firmly established back in the EFL Championship.
Prior to the derby, there is one stat that has come to light which may or may not come as a surprise, but it’s still a very valid talking point and shows the financial gulf between the sides.
Sunderland Vs Newcastle
The very first Wear-Tyne derby was played on Christmas Eve in 1898 which saw Newcastle run out 3-2 winners in the old First Division.
Sunderland’s first North East derby success came in April 1899, when they beat the Magpies 1-0. Overall, there have been 155 clashes between the two clubs.
Perhaps ironically, they both have the same number of victories across all competitions (53) and there have been 49 draws.
More recently, the Black Cats have won six of the last seven derbies with the very last meeting ending in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.
Next up: The Wear-Tyne derby ✊#SAFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/YFlLXyau7m
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 3, 2024
Bruno Guimaraes Market Value
It’s no secret that Newcastle have the richest owners in world football but that doesn’t mean they can go completely gung-ho in the transfer market.
Some of their signings under the Saudi ownership have been very modest whereas a handful of new acquisitions have been for sizeable outlays.
One of these players is Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who set the Magpies back £40m in the 2022 January transfer window.
Guimaraes has been a huge hit at St James’ Park and he signed a new five-year contract in October 2023 after a series of excellent performances.
As it stands, Guimaraes is worth more than Sunderland‘s entire squad. According to transfermarkt.com, the 26-year old has a market value of £73.5m.
The Black Cats, who are trying desperately to get back in to the Premier League, have an entire squad value of £69.1m Their most valuable player is Jack Clarke – who has a market value of £12.9m.
Sunderland Vs Newcastle Preview
As with any derby game across England, it’s going to be a tight one to call on Saturday afternoon. Sunderland have had a mixed-bag of results across December but won last time out against Preston.
Newcastle have had a torrid run of results in recent weeks. The Magpies have won just two games since the start of December so a small upset is on the cards.
Eddie Howe’s side still have a number of players out injured and the Black Cats have a near fully-fit squad to choose from. A 2-1 win for the home side is more than likely.
Ahead of the match, the best UK betting sites make the Magpies 4/5 match favourites. The draw is available at 7/2 and the Mackems can also be backed at 7/2.
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