Chelsea wanted to join the title race, but Régis Le Bris's Black Cats are determined to prove, every matchday, that they are back in the Premier League to stay.

And watch out, because the northerners might be aiming even higher than just survival. Coming from behind to storm Stamford Bridge (1-2) is not something just any team can do. Neither could Guiu complete his dream week with the Blues, nor could Enzo Maresca's pupils secure their fifth consecutive win across all competitions. The team climbing the English table is the newly-promoted Sunderland, sitting second with just two points less than Reinildo Mandava's Arsenal.

Roefs outshone Robert Sánchez, Xhaka outshone João Pedro, Wilson Isidor outshone Marc Guiu, and Reinildo outshone Cucurella. Whether it was Pedro Neto or Estevão, the former Atlético defender ate alive everyone who came down his flank. He even started the counter-attack that delivered, in the 93rd minute, the Black Cats' 5th league win of the campaign. The Stadium of Light team invested a lot of money last summer, but eight years without a taste of the top flight were too many not to come back with a bang.

From Alejandro Garnacho's "I have arrived" to the "We are Sunderland" of the Black Cats fans. The 1-0 home goal was a strike in the purest Garnacho style: counter-attack, drive, step-over, and a powerful low shot. But the equalizing away goal was yet another tribute from the 2025-2026 Premier League to Tony Pulis, Rory Delap, and direct football. Goals born from long throws are here to stay.

Garnacho opened his scoring account for the Blues in the 4th minute, and Régis Le Bris's pupils, via a launched ball into the heart of the area and a point-blank finish from Wilson Isidor, re-established parity on the scoreboard in the 20th. The Argentine winger was unable to repeat his celebration of pointing to the grass and sitting on the advertising hoarding because of, and thanks to (the Sunderland fans would say), a massive save from Roefs.

Enzo Maresca must have seen Stamford Bridge as somewhat flat, and the Italian manager brought on the biggest stimulant they currently have in West London: Estevão. He is only 18 and can't yet be considered a star for this Chelsea, but there isn't a match where the Blues' home ground doesn't receive the Brazilian '41' on its feet and with an ovation. When he's on the pitch, things always happen.

Estevão earned the applause, Cucurella gave a scare after a heavy blow to the head following a fisted clearance from the visiting keeper, and Marc Guiu was the disappointment of the afternoon. While young Josh Acheampong, aged 19, led the Blues' backline with a defensive masterclass playing as a centre-back, the Spanish U21 international could not do the same with Chelsea's attack. Guiu, who was given a second consecutive start after his goalscoring debut in the Champions League against Ajax, did not have his best performance against the Black Cats.

But there was still time for a late surprise. This time, unlike weeks ago against Liverpool, it wasn't Estevão who made the Stamford Bridge stands erupt at the death. On this occasion, it was the away section that exploded with Talbi's goal. The referee added six minutes, and in the 93rd, Sunderland executed a lethal counter-attack. Reinildo started it, the Black Cats used Brian Brobbey as a focal point, and the visiting '7' finished it with a perfectly measured pass into the net. You can imagine the 'limbs', as they say in England, that were seen in the red-and-white section of the Blues' home. The three points were headed for the Stadium of Light.