After a 76-day wait, the Championship is back. All 11 matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday see the home team favored, with Southampton and Leicester City – both relegated from the Premier League – credited with the highest probability of victory according to Opta’s supercomputer predictions.
Last year, home advantage was more important in the Championship than in any other English professional league, with 253 home wins out of 552 games (46%). No matchday ever saw 11 home wins, with the maximum being 10 on matchday 22 in December.
Southampton hosts Wrexham on Saturday. The Welsh club, famous for being financed by Hollywood stars, returns to the second division after 43 years and 86 days: this is the longest gap between two appearances in the second division in England since Doncaster Rovers in 2008 (50 years and 105 days). Wrexham are unbeaten in 10 league games, but facing Southampton will be a different story. Will Still will make his official debut in charge of the Saints, and the supercomputer gives them a 62.8% chance of winning at St. Mary’s.
The only team with a higher win percentage on matchday 1 is Leicester City, who face Sheffield Wednesday in the only Sunday game of the round. Playing away against Leicester is likely to be one of the toughest fixtures for any team this year, but for Sheffield Wednesday it could be even worse. The Owls are under several EFL sanctions for financial violations and will not be able to buy players until January 2027, meaning they may struggle to field a competitive starting eleven. Martí Cifuentes makes his league debut in charge of Leicester after his spell at QPR. The supercomputer gives his side a 63.0% chance of victory.
First day of the Championship, victories also for Sheffield United and Coventry
In Saturday’s late game, Sheffield United will look to bounce back from their playoff final defeat to Sunderland when they host Bristol City, the team they demolished in the semifinals (3-0 on the return leg at Bramall Lane). Bristol City had a disappointing away record last year, with only one win in their last 15 away games (7 draws, 7 defeats) in the regular season before losing to the Blades.
The Rubén Sellés era should begin with a win: the supercomputer gives Sheffield United a 58.6% chance of success out of 10,000 simulations. Fourth and last home win in percentage order is Lampard’s Coventry against Hull City.
Odds comparison
Victories for Leicester, Southampton, Sheffield United, and Coventry are at 5.52 on Goldbet and Lottomatica.
- GOLDBET – Up to €3050 on sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
- SNAI – €15 free + 50% on your first deposit up to €30 MORE INFO
- LOTTOMATICA – Up to €3050 on sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO