Sunderland's Europa League return carries a statistical warning from history

Sunderland finished seventh in 2025-26 and will play Europa League football for the first time in 53 years. But four of the last 20 promoted sides who finished in the Premier League's top half were relegated the next season — 20%, per BBC Sport. Ipswich, fifth in 2000-01, dropped 13 places after UEFA Cup fixtures piled up. The calendar gets harder.