Sunderland's captain, Granit Xhaka, believes it's realistic for the team to reach the Europa League final next spring. However, their first match in the competition—a 1-0 win against AZ Alkmaar—showed that the team needs to improve its finishing. Despite creating several scoring chances, Sunderland only managed one goal, scored by Enzo Le Fée from a second-half penalty. Le Fée was named the match's outstanding player and played a key role in securing the win. The match took place after Sunderland's recent Premier League loss to Arsenal and before their upcoming clash with Manchester City. Manager Régis Le Bris made only minor changes to his starting lineup, keeping players like Brian Brobbey, Dan Ballard, and Thomas Meunier on the bench. Among the spectators was Jimmy Montgomery, an 82-year-old former Sunderland goalkeeper who played a crucial role in their 1973 FA Cup victory and was also part of the team during their last European campaign. Malick Fofana, who joined Sunderland from Lyon for £30 million on transfer deadline day, made his debut in the match. A large tifo display featuring a sailing ship with the message "New shores to conquer" greeted the team before kickoff. AZ Alkmaar, who had started the season with an unbeaten record, proved to be a tough opponent. Their goalkeeper, Jari De Busser, made several important saves, including stopping a shot from Ro-Zangelo Daal and a rebound from Le Fée. Enzo Le Fée had a strong impact, testing De Busser with a half-volley and hitting the post with another shot. Trai Hume, who joined Sunderland from League One in 2022, also had a chance but missed narrowly. AZ's Ayoub Oufkir and Kees Smit showed they were not just strong in possession but also posed a threat to Sunderland's defense. In the second half, AZ seemed to gain momentum, with Smit drawing interest from European clubs. Le Bris replaced Omar Alderete with Dan Ballard after the player received a booking. Le Fée nearly scored again but was denied by De Busser. After a foul by Patati in the penalty area, Le Fée converted the spot-kick, scoring low into the bottom corner. Sunderland pushed for a second goal with Brobbey coming on, but AZ remained a threat, especially with Daal's involvement. The final 10 minutes were tense, but Le Fée and his teammates managed to hold on for the win, marking the start of their European campaign.