Sunderland host Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday evening. Sunderland are ninth with seven points from three games and unbeaten, while Zagreb are 18th and under a caretaker coach after Mario Kovacevic left.
Sunderland host Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday evening at the Stadium of Light. The match referee is Andrea Colombo of Italy. Sunderland are ninth and Dinamo Zagreb 18th in the 36-team league phase standings after three matches.
Sunderland's European form
Sunderland are unbeaten in the Europa League this season, with seven points from their first three games, two wins and a draw. They beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 and Torreense 2-1, and drew 1-1 with Lech Poznan.
Domestic struggles for Sunderland
Pressure is mounting on Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris following a difficult run of results in the Premier League. Sunderland are currently at the bottom of the Premier League. They most recently lost 1-3 to Coventry City, having beaten Brentford 3-2 in the Carabao Cup.
Squad news
Sunderland winger Chemsdine Talbi has replaced Habib Diarra in Le Bris' Europa League squad, as Diarra has suffered another injury. Dinamo Zagreb defender Scott McKenna is a major doubt with a back strain. Striker Dion Drena Beljo has scored 17 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season, including three in two Europa League matches.
Dinamo Zagreb's situation
Dinamo Zagreb have a win, a defeat and a draw from their first three Europa League games: 0-0 with Hapoel Beer Sheva, a 1-0 win over Anderlecht and a 4-2 defeat to NEC Nijmegen. They are second in their domestic league. Head coach Mario Kovacevic left by mutual termination after a weekend 1-0 defeat to Rudes. Reserve team boss Jerko Leko is caretaker for the next two games.
