Le Bris has found his N’Golo Kante after what new Sunderland star did v Sevilla
Sunderland have drawn to Sevilla in their first match of pre-season.
The Black Cats travelled to Estadio Algarve on Saturday (July 19) to take on the Spanish side, and got off to a brilliant start when Enzo Le Fee capitalised on a mistake to give Regis Le Bris’ side the lead.
Sunderland slowed following the half-time changes and Sevilla found a very late equaliser courtesy of Ruben Vargas, seeing the scores end 1-1.
Sporting CP will be next for the club from the North East on Monday (July 21) before games against Hearts, Hull City and Real Betis, as Le Bris’ team look to build towards their return to the Premier League.
Sadiki stuns in Spain
Sunderland fans were aware of who they were signing when the club confirmed that a deal worth around £15million had been agreed with Union Saint-Gilloise for the transfer of Noah Sadiki.
A tough-tackling midfielder, the DR Congo international had stood out among the best players in the Belgian first division as Union surged to the title.
And at just 20, Sadiki heralded great potential, with Sunderland fans happy to acknowledge the potential need for some patience as the midfielder adapts to Premier League football.
But the midfielder’s first minutes in a red and white shirt may have gone some way to suggest that adaptation period may not be as long as initially though.
Starting at the base of midfield, Sadiki dominated the action. Stealing the ball away with crunching tackles and using his body to dribble away from his opposition.
The midfielder seemed to cover every blade of grass, as he appeared outside the box to shoot early on, before chasing back to snuff out a counter. One, admittedly early, comparison could be that to N’Golo Kante.
The 20-year-old seemed to treat the match as if it were the opening day of the Premier League already, roaring at officials to contest decisions and hurling his body around the pitch.
It is fair to say that Sunderland fans like what they see from the new look Black Cats so far, with sentiment towards fellow signings Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra similar.
Sadiki could be a Sunderland star
It is early days for Sunderland and Sadiki. The midfielder has played just 45 minutes and is yet to be tested by the brutal nature of the Premier League.
But part of that is what makes the 20-year-old just so exciting. If he can produce such a display in his first minutes, what else could he be capable of?
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