Norwich City and Sunderland represent two storied clubs in English football with a competitive history against each other. Both teams currently compete in the English Football League Championship, England’s second-tier competition, where they continue to battle for potential promotion to the Premier League.
Their head-to-head encounters have produced memorable matches with closely contested results over the years.
Historical head-to-head record
Since 2003, Norwich City and Sunderland have faced each other 21 times across various competitions. The rivalry has been remarkably balanced, with Sunderland holding a slight edge with 9 victories compared to Norwich City’s 8 wins. The remaining 4 matches ended in draws. In terms of goal-scoring, Sunderland has been more prolific with 26 goals against Norwich City’s 19 goals in these encounters.
This close record demonstrates the competitive nature of matches between these two sides, with neither team able to establish clear dominance over the other throughout their recent history.
Recent form and encounters
The last five meetings between Norwich City and Sunderland have continued to showecase their evenly matched competition:
- April 8, 2025: 0-0 draw
- December 21, 2024: Sunderland 2-1 Norwich City
- March 2, 2024: Norwich City 1-0 Sunderland
- October 28, 2023: Sunderland 3-1 Norwich City
- August 27, 2022: Norwich City 1-0 Sunderland
Norwich City has managed 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in these fixtures, while Sunderland has secured 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Both teams have averaged 1.2 goals per match in their recent encounters, though Norwich City has conceded slightly more at 1.4 goals per match compared to Sunderland’s 1.2.
Key players and performances
The 2024/25 season has seen several standout performers for both sides, Sunderland’s attack has been spearheaded by Wilson Isidor, who has netted an impressive 12 goals so far this season. He’s been well supported by Eliezer Mayenda Dossou, who has contributed 8 goals to Sunderland’s campaign.
On the disciplinary front, both teams have players who have accumulated significant yellow cards. Norwich City’s Callum Doyle has received 11 yellow cards this season, while Sunderland’s Trai Hume leads with 13 yellow cards. These statistics highlight the intensity and physicality that characterize matches between these two sides.
Championship implications
As Championship competitors, both Norwich City and Sunderland harbor ambitions of returning to the Premier League. Their matches often carry significant weight in the promotion race, with three points potentially making the difference between playoff qualification and mid-table obscurity.
The balanced nature of their head-to-head record suggests that when these teams meet, form often goes out the window. Their matches frequently become tactical battles where small margins and individual moments of quality decide the outcome.
With the Championship season continuing to unfold, future encounters between Norwich City and Sunderland will undoubtedly add new chapters to this competitive rivalry as both clubs pursue their Premier League aspirations.