Xhaka Vows 'Fire' as Sunderland Return to Europe After 53-Year Gap

TL;DR Granit Xhaka says he expects "fire" from the Sunderland faithful as the club hosts AZ Alkmaar in their first European fixture in over five decades.

Key Points - Sunderland will host AZ Alkmaar in a European competition match. - This marks the club's return to European football after a 53-year absence. - Captain Granit Xhaka anticipates an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors. - The last European match at the ground took place in 1973 against Vasas Budapest.

What We Know According to The Guardian Football, Xhaka expressed excitement about the return to European football, highlighting the potential for a hostile environment for AZ. The report notes that Sunderland last played in Europe in 1973, when they won a Cup Winners' Cup tie against Vasas of Budapest. At that time, the club used ticket revenue to fund floodlight upgrades for the new era of color television broadcasting.

Why It Matters This match represents a historic milestone for Sunderland, ending a 53-year drought in European competition. It signals the club's competitive resurgence and offers fans a rare opportunity to witness a home European fixture, an event that has been absent from the club's recent history.

What Happens Next The next step is the scheduled match against AZ Alkmaar. While not confirmed in the text, it is speculated that a win would further solidify Sunderland's momentum in the group stage or qualifying rounds, depending on the specific tournament format not detailed here.