Sunderland and Sheffield United face off in a EFL Championship play-off final with the match kicking off one minute later to raise CPR awareness.

Sunderland are celebrating clinching the most dramatic promotion back to the Premier League. The Black Cats trailed Sheffield United for much of Saturday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley, with Chris Wilder’s Blades looking firmly on course to secure an instant return to the top-flight to join champions Leeds and runners-up Burnley.

Sheffield United have failed to earn promotion in any of their four previous finals. No side has appeared in more without ever earning promotion (four also for Leeds United and Reading)

Sheffield United play-off defeat reignites Gus Hamer transfer speculation after previous Leeds United approach

The 24 Championship clubs are vying to be one of the three that earns a spot in the 2025/26 top flight season, but a few lead the way as the season nears a close. Burnley and Leeds United ...

The Blades are just the third team in the history of the second tier to finish on 90 points and not win automatic promotion. Only Leeds last season and Sunderland in 1997/98 have done so, with both ominously losing in the play-off final.

The 24-year-old had temporary stints at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia before he joined Leeds. He started every Championship game for Leeds in the 2023/24 campaign as the club ...

Opta predicts the Championship play-off final Sheffield United v Sunderland with a 20/1 Bet Builder tip for Saturday's match at Wembley

Financially, winning the Championship play-off final is undoubtedly the best way to be promoted. Dubbed 'the richest game in football', the winner receives a minimum of £200m - while ironically, winning the league only earns roughly 10% of that.