In stark contrast to their money-laden neighbours, Sunderland are within touching distance of the Premier League’s riches with one of the youngest squads in the Championship. Luton stand in their way of reaching the richest game in football – the play-off final – and the means to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds available to those who play in England’s top flight. The Black Cats spent a decade in the Premier League, before they were relegated with four games remaining at the end of the 2016-17 season. Sunderland’s plight is better known than most, in large part due to Netflix’s Sunderland ‘Til I Die fly-on-the-wall documentary which started with optimism of an immediate return to the top tier, but instead catalogued the disastrous, often embarrassing relegation to League One. That documentary helped inspire Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to buy Wrexham but now the Black Cats are hunting a Hollywood fairytale of their own. The third level of the English footballing pyramid is arguably one of the most difficult divisions to escape, as Leeds too found in recent years, and Sunderland finished in the play-offs three times before moving back into the Championship in the 2021-22 season. However, Tony Mowbray is on the brink of something extraordinary. After Alex Neil’s departure on 21 August to take charge of Stoke - despite having led the Black Cats back into the second tier - Sunderland have flourished. Despite one of the youngest squads, with an average age of just 23.4 years, they are unbeaten in their last nine matches, including a 1-1 draw to Luton who they will face at the weekend. The Hatters’ meteoric rise eclipses even that of Sunderland, having been outside the Football League as recently as the 2013-14 season, though they are more established in the Championship, playing in their third season. But Sunderland will be encouraged by their 1-1 draw with Premier League side Fulham in the FA Cup – although the Cottagers made a number of changes from their usual starting XI – and Mowbray has argued against those who believe promotion would come too soon for his youthful side. They have the potential. And a 46,000 seater stadium with passionate fans who would relish the opportunity to take on their old rivals Newcastle in the first northeast derby since March 2016. However, Sunderland – if they return – will be returning to a wholly different local footballing landscape. While they have travelled to Grimsby and Port Vale, their local rivals are on the cusp of a return to the heights of Europe and have become one of the richest football clubs in the world. In contrast, Sunderland have had a chaotic near-constant change of ownership which has been a source of contention for the fans. Their path to the play-offs was also far from straightforward, having started the final round of matches outside the top six, but Millwall’s capitulation from a two-goal lead to suffering a 4-3 defeat against Blackburn, who went into the game without a win in eight, allowed Sunderland to sneak into sixth. Securing promotion could also be a fitting final tribute for Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Paris Saint Germain’s Edouard Michut. Diallo has netted 13 times this season in 40 appearances and is likely to be welcomed back to Old Trafford after impressing during his spell on loan. Sunderland have the experience and they won a play-off final as recently as last year, but the knockout matches are notoriously difficult and Luton will prove tough opposition. Read More Coventry City aiming to come full circle after journey to hell and back When are the play-offs? A tiny ground and a squad costing less than a Man City sub. So how are Luton within reach of the Premier League? Football rumours: Tottenham ready for fight to keep hold of Harry Kane Michael Smith wraps up quickfire Premier League hat-trick with Sheffield success West Ham overcome ghosts of Frankfurt to eye another shot at European glory

Each club in the NWSL wants to end this stretch on a positive note with this weekend being the last set of regular season matches until Aug. 18.NWSL schedule: Portland Thorns aim to end skid at Red Bull Arena against NJ/NY Gotham FCPortland Thorns at NJ/NY Gotham FCDate: Sunday, July 9, 5:30 p...

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon—and Buzz Aldrin became the first one to pee on it.

Atletico Madrid scored four times in 13 second-half minutes to win 7-0 at Rayo Vallecano to move second in the LaLiga table. Atletico were 3-0 up inside 36 minutes as goals from Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay and Nahuel Molina effectively ended the game as a contest against Rayo, who had previously won their opening two games of the season. Alvaro Morata scored twice as Diego Simeone’s side put their hosts to the sword in the final 20 minutes, with Angel Correa and Marcos Llorente also on target to move Atletico two points behind Real Madrid at the top. Elsewhere an 84th-minute penalty from Borja Mayoral sealed a 1-0 win for Getafe at home to Alaves. Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro Martinez scored in the first half as Inter Milan beat Cagliari 2-0 to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Serie A season and move third in the table. Last season’s Champions League runners-up took the lead after 21 minutes when Marcus Thuram slipped the ball through to Dumfries who cleverly angled the ball across goal into the far corner. Inter’s advantage was doubled when Martinez cut inside and rolled a cool finish beyond the goalkeeper to send Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari to their first defeat of the season. Salernitana needed a goal in the 72nd minute from Boulaye Dia to rescue a point at home to Udinese to remain unbeaten after two games. Lazar Samardzic had earlier given the visitors the lead as they sought a first win of the campaign before the hosts hit back to snatch a point. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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