Europa League history offers Sunderland and Palace hope
- Sunderland and Crystal Palace are currently in the Premier League relegation zone.
- History shows only one team, Hull City in 2014/15, was relegated the season after qualifying for the Europa League.
- Sunderland hosts Dinamo Zagreb tonight while Crystal Palace plays Hoffenheim.
- Crystal Palace is considering replacing manager Pierre Sage with Anthony Barry.
- Crystal Palace faces a critical Premier League match against Liverpool this Sunday.
Sunderland and Crystal Palace remain favorites for Premier League relegation as both clubs currently sit in the bottom three. A Europa League statistic provides hope that their participation does not guarantee relegation.
Since the competition’s 2009/10 rebrand, Hull City is the only team relegated the season after qualifying for the Europa League. Hull City finished 18th in 2014/15 after losing the 2014 FA Cup final to Arsenal and exiting the tournament in the play-off round to Lokeren.
Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town were relegated during the same seasons they competed in the UEFA Cup.
Sunderland hosts Dinamo Zagreb at Stadium of Light
Sunderland hosts Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, November 5, 2026, for a Europa League fixture. This marks the club’s first European competition in more than 50 years.
Manager Regis Le Bris leads a squad currently sitting 9th in the 36-team Europa League standings, while Dinamo Zagreb enters the match in 18th place after three games. Sunderland’s recent domestic performance has declined due to frequent errors despite a relatively strong start to the season.
Sunderland ranks eighth in the Premier League for big chances created (23) and 10th for xG (13.21). Sunderland sits 18th in the league for chances converted, with a conversion rate of 6.19%.
Crystal Palace faces Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace hosts Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park for a Europa League match on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Palace currently sits 15th in the 36-team standings after three rounds. Hoffenheim enters the fixture in 23rd place.
Each of the three Europa League games played by Crystal Palace this season saw at least four goals. Ten of Hoffenheim’s 13 competitive matches this season resulted in more than 2.5 goals.
Pierre Sage faces pressure at Crystal Palace
Pierre Sage is reportedly at risk of losing his job at Crystal Palace. The club is considering replacing Sage with England assistant manager Anthony Barry. The Mirror reported the team has already explored the possibility of hiring the 40-year-old.
While initial contact regarding Barry occurred, no formal agreement exists. Barry remains under contract with the Football Association until the 2028 European Championship. His resume includes work with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and the England national team, as well as with Roberto Martinez for the Belgium and Portugal national teams.
Palace seeks a coach capable of building a footballing identity and securing the results necessary to maintain Premier League status. The club won the Conference League last season but subsequently lost manager Oliver Glasner and several key players. Crystal Palace has struggled to replace players like Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, and Michael Olise who departed in recent years.
Crystal Palace has conceded 21 goals this season, the highest total in the Premier League. Crystal Palace has conceded 21 goals this season, the highest total in the Premier League. Players Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta have played only 182 minutes of league football combined after failed summer transfers. Adam Wharton is performing significantly below his usual standard. While Sage faces a potential exit, Sunderland has provided manager Regis Le Bris with a vote of confidence.
Crystal Palace prepares for Liverpool Premier League test
Crystal Palace hosts Liverpool at Selhurst Park this Sunday, November 8, 2026. The team has lost six of their first nine Premier League matches and sits in the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace is currently positioned above both Sunderland and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League standings. Crystal Palace has faced difficulty since an opening day loss to Everton, though they managed wins against Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
The upcoming match is a test for the tactical approach used by manager Pierre Sage. Reports suggest the club is considering an England coach for the managerial position.
Benfica leads Europa League standings
Benfica leads the 36-team Europa League standings with nine points from three matches. The club hosts Lech Poznan at the Estadio da Luz this Thursday evening.
Niels Frederiksen manages Lech Poznan, which currently sits in 32nd place with one point. Bayer Leverkusen holds second place with nine points from three wins. They host 34th-placed Marseille at the BayArena on Thursday.
Juventus and AZ Alkmaar battle for qualification
Juventus and AZ Alkmaar trail each other by one point as they compete for automatic qualification to the last 16. The teams meet at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday evening.
AZ Alkmaar maintains a long unbeaten home record in UEFA competitions. Juventus has shown minimal progress in Serie A since Spalletti took charge one year ago.
Celta Vigo and Sturm Graz fixtures
Celta Vigo occupies 25th place in the Europa League with three points from three matches. The club hosts sixth-placed Union SG this Thursday evening.
Sturm Graz faces Celje on Thursday night for their fourth league phase match. Sturm Graz has scored only one goal in three Europa League matches, while Celje has conceded seven goals in the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Europa League history offers Sunderland and Crystal Palace Premier League survival hope (dazn.com)
- Thursday's Europa League predictions including Sparta Prague vs. Bournemouth, Sunderland vs. Dinamo Zagreb - Sports Mole (sportsmole.co.uk)
- England coach could be set for Crystal Palace job (eplindex.com)
- Crystal Palace (tavily.com)
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