Premier League archrivals! Your badge does not deserve to appear on my pitch—centuries of rivalry carried on.

What kind of match is this? Who is Sunderland facing? Why is the opponent’s badge missing? Such questions emerged in this round of the Premier League. In the 16th round, the much-anticipated Tyne-Wear derby took place, showcasing two genuine archrivals, with promoted Sunderland hosting Newcastle. Sunderland won 1-0 at home due to an own goal. When Sunderland took the 1-0 lead, the home scoreboard displayed only Sunderland’s badge, with no sign of Newcastle’s emblem; instead, Sunderland staff labeled the visitors simply as “away team,” a very rare occurrence in the Premier League and even among the top five European leagues.

Both Sunderland and Newcastle hail from Tyne and Wear in Northeast England, only 19 kilometers apart. The animosity between these two cities dates back to the 17th century, and this special relationship has carried over to their football clubs, making Sunderland and Newcastle fierce, irreconcilable rivals. The Tyne-Wear derby requires no motivation—it's all about fighting hard on the pitch.

Fans who watched the match surely noticed that when the final whistle blew, some of Sunderland’s longtime supporters were moved to tears of joy. The last Tyne-Wear derby was ten years ago. Time flies, but the loyalty of these fans to their team remains unwavering. This season, the Black Cats of Sunderland have finally returned to the Premier League and are performing impressively, currently sitting seventh—the strongest and most surprising newly promoted team this season.

Black Cats devouring Magpies—what a vivid image!