There is just one position that separates Bristol City and Sunderland in the Championship standings, but the reality is that the Robins are trailing the Black Cats by a significant 12-point margin with only four matches remaining.
Sunderland are virtually assured of fourth place in the league, as they are seven points behind third-placed Sheffield United.
City's final rank is still uncertain, as Coventry are just one point behind them in sixth place. West Brom, Middlesbrough, and Millwall are all four points behind, aiming to secure a playoff spot.
Burnley, in second place, are the only team to have defeated Bristol City in their last 11 matches. The Robins have been unbeaten in their last six home games. On the other hand, Sunderland are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Swansea in their previous outing, with concerns arising over their goal-scoring form after netting only two goals in their last five games.
When the two teams met at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, they played out a 1-1 draw. The upcoming match in Bristol is expected to be closely contested as well.
Team news
Bristol City manager Liam Manning may consider making changes following their 1-1 draw against QPR, but there are no new injury concerns reported. Luke McNally and Ayman Benarous remain sidelined due to long-term injuries.
Jobe Bellingham could return to the Sunderland squad after missing the last two matches due to an ankle injury. However, Romaine Mundle, Dan Ballard, Dennis Cirkin, Jenson Seelt, Ian Poveda, Niall Huggins, Jayden Danns, and Ahmed Abdullahi are still unavailable. Defender Aji Alese, who was expected to miss the remainder of the season, might be back in time for the playoffs.
The stats
Both teams have scored in Bristol City's last five Championship home matches.
The Robins have won their last three home games 2-1.
Bristol City has not scored more than two goals in any of their 2025 games.
They have won 12 out of 21 home league fixtures, with only Leeds and Sheffield United having a better record.
Sunderland has suffered eight defeats this season, with four of them ending in a 1-0 scoreline.
The Black Cats have lost only two of their last eight away games.
None of Sunderland's last 11 matches have seen more than 3.5 goals scored.
Sunderland have scored only three goals in their last six games.
In the last four encounters between these two teams, the total goals scored has been under 2.5 each time.
Prediction
Three of the last four meetings between Bristol City and Sunderland have ended in draws. It is highly likely that Friday's match at Ashton Gate could also result in a draw.
A draw seems to be the most valuable option, considering Sunderland's recent low-scoring trend. The Black Cats have not been prolific in front of goal while also being solid defensively.
Though it's a challenging period for Sunderland, who are essentially waiting for the playoffs, the prospect of facing Bristol City in the postseason should motivate them to put up a strong performance in this game.
Manager Regis Le Bris will be eager for his Sunderland side to avoid a slump in form before the playoffs, especially after the recent loss to Swansea. They have only suffered consecutive defeats once this season, indicating their resilience on the road and their ability to secure at least a point in Bristol.
Bristol City has drawn three of their last seven games and have recorded 16 draws in 42 league matches this season, while Sunderland has only lost six out of 21 away league games.