Le Bris relishing Europa League tests, but focus on Fulham

Regis Le Bris is relishing the chance for Sunderland to go up against AC Milan in the Europa League.

However, his focus is on Sunday's Premier League meeting with Fulham, as the Black Cats aim to bounce back from their opening-day defeat to Ipswich Town.

Sunderland enjoyed a fantastic return to the top tier last season, and finished seventh to qualify for the Europa League.

Their draw was confirmed on Friday, with Sunderland taking on AZ Alkmaar (home), Milan (away), Dinamo Zagreb (home), Anderlecht (away), Jagiellonia (home), Lech Poznan (away), Levski Sofia (home), Torreense (away).

A trip to the San Siro to face seven-time European champions Milan is a clear standout, and Le Bris is looking forward to going up against the continental heavyweights.

"Sunderland are back in Europe so it's a bit unknown," Le Bris said.

"We can expect strong opponents, different cultures, different experiences and we need that to get better. It's a huge privilege and we are really proud of this opportunity.

"It's iconic, Milan. It's a massive club, massive history. so to get back in Europe with that fixture, it's a symbol."

Asked about Sunderland's aims for the remainder of the transfer window, Le Bris said: "I'm focused on the game first of all. I trust Flo [Ghisolfi], Kyril [Louis-Dreyfus] and the recruitment staff so we are working hard behind the scenes.

"We are really well aligned about our targets, what we need to get better as a team. I won't comment on individual positions. I still think that we'll succeed in this transfer window."

Like Sunderland, Fulham are looking to get on track in the league after a defeat to Chelsea earlier this week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sunderland - Nilson Angulo

Angulo scored Sunderland’s goal on MD1 against Ipswich – three Sunderland players have scored on MD1 and MD2 in a Premier League season: Niall Quinn in 2000-01, Michael Chopra in 2007-08 and Darren Bent in 2009-10.

It was the Ecuadorian's first Premier League goal.

Fulham - Gonzalo Garcia

Garcia scored on his Premier League debut against Chelsea on MD1 and could become the first player to net on both of their first two appearances in the competition for Fulham since Pavel Pogrebnyak in February 2012.

The Spaniard has scored seven goals across just 10 top-flight starts.

MATCH PREDICTION: SUNDERLAND WIN

In a good omen for Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa, Le Bris has won only one of his eight Premier League games against Spanish managers (D4 L3), beating Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth in November 2025. That is the only example of a French manager beating a Spanish manager in the competition since the 2022-23 campaign (P12 D4 L7).

However, Fulham have earned the fewest away points of any ever-present team in the Premier League in 2026 (seven – W1 D4 L5), while they have won their opening away match in just two of their last nine league campaigns (D3 L4): v Huddersfield in the Championship in 2021-22 and v Everton in 2023-24.

But Fulham have not lost their opening two Premier League fixtures since 2020-21 as a newly promoted side; they have not lost their first two matches of a top-flight campaign as a non-newly promoted team since 1967-68, when relegated under Viv Buckingham/Sir Bobby Robson.

Fulham have won their last three league games against Sunderland, beating them in the Championship in 2018 and completing the double over them last season. They have never won four in a row against the Black Cats.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sunderland - 41.5%

Draw - 27.5%

Fulham - 31%