The 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season kicks off on Saturday, 9 August, with ten fixtures across the day. Relegated Premier League sides look to hit the ground running, while newly promoted and established Championship clubs aim for a strong start. Below is a match-by-match preview, key stats, recent head-to-head notes, probable lineups, and our correct-score predictions.
Sat 09 Aug
12:30 Charlton Athletic vs Watford
12:30 Coventry City vs Hull City
12:30 Southampton vs Wrexham
15:00 Middlesbrough vs Swansea City
15:00 Norwich City vs Millwall
15:00 Oxford United vs Portsmouth
15:00 Queens Park Rangers vs Preston North End
15:00 Stoke City vs Derby County
15:00 West Bromwich Albion vs Blackburn Rovers
17:30 Sheffield United vs Bristol City
Charlton Athletic vs Watford (12:30)
Preview
Charlton Athletic return to the second tier following automatic promotion from League One. Watford, relegated after a two-year stay in the Premier League, head south to The Valley, aiming to rediscover winning form.
Key Stats
– Charlton conceded just 0.93 goals per game across League One last season and has tightened further over pre-season.
– Watford shipped 1.7 goals per away match in 2024/25 and are still bedding in a new back four under Mike Jackson.
Head to Head
In their last six Championship meetings, Charlton have two wins, two draws, and two defeats. Narrow margins have settled recent encounters.
Probable Lineups
Charlton (4-2-3-1): Duke; Francomb, O’Brien, Wyke, Day; Hamill, Abel; Baker, Brown, Eze; Robinson
Watford (4-3-3): Bachmann; Ngakia, Dawson, Kabasele, Hughes; Chalobah, Prödl, Sarr; Dennis, Gray, Moses
Correct Score Prediction
2-1
Coventry City vs Hull City (12:30)
Preview
Coventry come into Matchday 1 off the back of a play-off finish in May and have bolstered their squad with summer signings. Hull narrowly avoided relegation, sparking a summer overhaul under new coach Sergej Jakirović.
Key Stats
– Coventry ended 24/25 in fifth spot and invested £3.5 million in full-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden this summer.
– Hull City finished four points clear of the drop and signed Gustavo Puerta from Bayer Leverkusen for around £3 million.
Head to Head
Coventry have won three of the last five meetings in all competitions, with Hull taking one and one draw rounding out that run.
Probable Lineups
Coventry (4-3-3): Roe, Bentley, Dome, Brady, Kiernan; Svensson, Burrows, Mendes; White, Sinclair, Anderson
Hull (4-2-3-1): Maierhofer; Poole, Miller, Cooper, Goodwin; Puerta, Wilkes; Maloney, Bowen, Roberts; Long
Correct Score Prediction
2-1
Southampton vs Wrexham (12:30)
Preview
Newly relegated Southampton, bottom of the Premier League last season, aim to bounce back under 32-year-old boss Will Still. Wrexham returns to the second tier for the first time in 43 years, following successive promotions, buoyed by significant investment.
Key Stats
– Southampton added striker Damion Downs for £7 million and possesses one of the youngest back lines in the division.
– Wrexham have recruited Championship-proven players such as Josh Windass and Conor Coady to complement their Hollywood-backed project.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting in over four decades, so there’s no recent head-to-head record.
Probable Lineups
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster; Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Stephens, Theo Walcott; Reed, Henley; Adams, Armstrong, Stewart; Downs
Wrexham (3-5-2): Etheridge; Coady, O’Brien, Windass; Hardie, Mills, Pikachu, Coussins, Davies; Hardie, Lewis
Correct Score Prediction
3-2
Middlesbrough vs Swansea City (15:00)
Preview
Middlesbrough, under new head coach Rob Edwards, looks to build on a mid-table finish. Swansea reshaped their squad this summer and will rely on attacking flair to challenge for the top six.
Key Stats
– Boro scored 1.6 goals per home match in 24/25 but conceded 1.2 goals at the Riverside.
– Swansea averaged 1.4 goals per away game and has added width to their frontline.
Head to Head
Their last three Championship clashes produced two Boro wins and one Swansea victory.
Probable Lineups
Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Smith; Ajayi, Gibson, Shotton, Hall; Clayton, Forshaw, Perry; Chuba Akpom, Johnson, Assombalonga
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Nordfeldt; Naughton, Lang, Cullen, Roberts; Grimes, James; Colwill, Azeez, Hakeem; Nkaka
Correct Score Prediction
2-1
Norwich City vs Millwall (15:00)
Preview
After the promotion heartbreak in May, Norwich retained a majority of their squad under David Wagner. Millwall, known for their grit, aims to replicate the consistency that saw them finish in the top half last term.
Key Stats
– Norwich conceded a league-high 1.7 goals per game in 24/25 but remains attack-minded.
– Millwall boasted the Championship’s best defensive record away from home, conceding just 0.96 goals per trip.
Head to Head
Across their last five meetings, Norwich have two wins, Millwall two, and one stalemate.
Probable Lineups
Norwich (3-5-2): Gunn; Aarons, Gibson, Hanley; Cantwell, Sargent, Stiepermann, Matt Purdy, Hernandez; Pukki, Vrancic
Millwall (4-4-2): Peacock-Farlane; Byron, Woodman, Henry, Wallace; Brown, George, Lynch, Onomah; Grant, Morison
Correct Score Prediction
1-1
Oxford United vs Portsmouth (15:00)
Preview
Both survived their first Championship campaigns last season but are tipped for a relegation scrap. Oxford has strengthened its midfield; Portsmouth brings in fresh attacking options.
Key Stats & H2H
– All-time in league matches: Played 78 – Oxford 24 wins, Portsmouth 29 wins, 25 draws.
– Oxford kept four clean sheets in pre-season; Portsmouth conceded 1.3 goals per away game last term.
Probable Lineups
Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Long, Moore, Helik, Leigh; Brannagan, De Keersmaecker; Mills, Goodrham, Phillips; Harris
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Williams, Shaughnessy, Poole, Ogilvie; Swift, Kosznovszky; Lang, Segecic, Murphy; Bishop
Correct Score Prediction
1-1
Queens Park Rangers vs Preston North End (15:00)
Preview
QPR aim to improve on their narrow escape last season, backed by new ownership willing to invest. Preston, under Alex Neil, focuses on defensive solidity and swift counter-attacks.
Key Stats
– QPR conceded 1.5 goals per home game in 24/25.
– Preston scored 1.2 goals per away match and kept six clean sheets on the road.
Head to Head
Preston has won three of the last five meetings, with QPR taking one and one draw.
Probable Lineups
QPR (4-1-4-1): Ingram; Andrews, Manning, Hall, Barbet; Freese; Chair, Mbong, Eze, Henry; Goss
Preston (4-4-2): Fuehring; Douglas, Cunningham, Cunningham, Welsh; Hanson, Stevens, Grimes, Gallagher; Antwi-Adjei, May
Correct Score Prediction
1-2
Stoke City vs Derby County (15:00)
Preview
Stoke, under Michael O’Neill’s successor, look to blend youth and experience at the bet365 Stadium. Derby, rebuilding under Paul Warne, emphasises work-rate and aerial threat.
Key Stats
– Stoke registered 15 clean sheets at home in 24/25.
– Derby scored 0.98 goals per away game and conceded 1.3 per trip.
Head to Head
Recent clashes have been tight – two wins apiece in the last six encounters with two draws.
Probable Lineups
Stoke (4-2-3-1): Grant; Souttar, Collins, Wilson, Robinson; Harper, McClean; Powell, Browne, Ince; Vokes
Derby (3-5-2): Carson; Anya, Bogle, Wisdom; Christie, Holmes, Hanson, Carson, Hutchinson; Johnson, Lafferty
Correct Score Prediction
2-1
West Bromwich Albion vs Blackburn Rovers (15:00)
Preview
Ryan Mason’s first full season in charge of West Brom holds promise after a ninth-place finish. Blackburn, narrowly missing out on a play-off place, have bolstered their midfield with Sidnei Tavares.
Key Stats
– West Brom spent £4.75 million on Aune Heggebo and scored 1.4 home goals per game in 24/25.
– Blackburn ended 24/25 unbeaten in their final six fixtures and conceded just 1.04 goals per match overall.
Head to Head
In their last five Championship meetings, West Brom hold a narrow advantage with two wins, Blackburn one, and two draws.
Probable Lineups
West Brom (4-3-3): Bogdan; Worrall, Bartley, Diagne, Furlong; Livermore, Fredericks, Barry; John-Jones, Heggebo, Gibbs
Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Wright; Bennett, Downing, Nzolo, Buckley; Elliott, Tavares; Armstrong, Crabtree, Andrews; Weston
Correct Score Prediction
1-1
Sheffield United vs Bristol City (17:30)
Preview
Sheffield United, beaten play-off finalists last season, remain one of the favourites under Rubén Sellés. Bristol City, also play-off contenders, have swapped managers and look to bounce back from semi-final disappointment.
Key Stats
– The Blades amassed 90 points in 24/25 and scored 2.1 goals per home game.
– Bristol City averaged 1.4 home goals last season but shipped 1.5 per match away from Ashton Gate.
Head to Head
Sheffield United have won three of the last six meetings, Bristol City two, with one draw.
Probable Lineups
Sheff Utd (3-5-2): Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Robinson, Barry, Norwood, Iversen, Stevens; Armstrong, Barry
Bristol City (4-2-3-1): Wright; Anderson, Mangala, Brownhill, Diedhiou; Hall, Grimes; Ferguson, Riis, Sykes; Fitzgerald
Correct Score Prediction
2-1
