Two teams in fine form clash when Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray welcomes his former club West Brom to the north east. The Black Cats have already returned to Championship action, beating Millwall last weekend to bookend the World Cup break with victories.
It’s derby day in Lancashire when Blackburn and Preston meet at Ewood Park as the Championship returns. Both sides will be raring to go having signed off before the World Cup with a defeat, while Preston will want to erase memories of a 4-1 hammering the last time they met in April.
Burnley have been sitting pretty at the top of the table while the Championship has been on hold for the World Cup but that might not be the case when they return to action at managerless QPR on Sunday. Sheffield United could hit the summit with a win over Huddersfield 24 hours before the teams line up at Loftus Road.
Burnley and Huddersfield will have new managers in the dugout when they kick off the new Championship season on Friday night. Vincent Kompany has succeeded Sean Dyche at the Clarets, while Danny Schofield took over the Terriers after Carlos Corberan’s shock resignation.
Two teams tipped for promotion from the Championship kick off their campaigns against each other when Middlesbrough face West Brom. Boro just missed out on the play-offs last term, while the Baggies struggled in their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League.
We’re tracking the Gareth Bale transfer odds to see where the Wales winger is likely to end up as he seeks to stay fit for World Cup duty. Retirement was considered a possibility for the 32-year-old after leaving Real Madrid, but he now needs to remain in shape ahead of Qatar 2022.
Huddersfield take on Nottingham Forest in an intriguing Championship play-off final, with a place in the Premier League at stake. Forest arguably have the better team on paper, but Town are resilient, hang in there in matches and have a happy knack of taking their chances.
West Brom have had the international break to lick their wounds after losing their unbeaten record and will hope to get back to winning ways. Albion slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Stoke last time out but can return to the top of the Championship table with victory here.
Swansea and Cardiff have one of the fiercest rivalries in British football and there is always plenty riding on this South Wales derby. There is even more pressure this time around, with both sides hovering perilously just above the Championship drop-zone.
Fulham and QPR both look early contenders for promotion from the Championship and Saturday’s west London derby could be a cracker. The two teams are separated by just one place and two points ahead of their showdown at Craven Cottage and are the top scorers in the division.
Bristol City have a good record in meetings with Swansea, winning three and drawing two of their last six head-to-head encounters. The Robins have also made the brighter start to this season’s Championship campaign, so the omens look good for Nigel Pearson’s men.
West Brom seem to have settled back into life in the Championship much better than Sheffield United and get the nod on home turf. Albion have been fragile at the back, but Valerien Ismael’s positive approach is paying off up front and that can prove decisive.
Fulham showed why they are favourites to top the Championship table with a big win at Huddersfield and can follow up at Millwall. The Lions kicked off their campaign with a couple of draws and will put up a fight, but the Cottagers have the class to come through.
Peterborough have made a shocking start to the new season and may be content to just steady the ship when hosting Derby in the Championship. The Rams were plagued by off-field problems over the summer but seem ready to knuckle down and fight for their survival.