Excitement is building for football fans as the new Championship season approaches, and the fixtures for the opening weekend have been announced.
Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday will kick off the season with a home game against relegated Southampton at Hillsborough on Friday, 4th August.
After a challenging season, Sheffield Wednesday managed to secure promotion to the Championship, and they will be eager to make a strong start in their quest to establish themselves in the second tier.
The opening fixture against Southampton provides them with an opportunity to showcase their abilities against a team that has just come down from the Premier League.
Southampton, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their relegation disappointment and regain their place in the top flight.
The match against Sheffield Wednesday will be an important test for them, and they will be determined to begin their Championship campaign on a positive note.
Another notable fixture in the opening weekend is Leicester City’s return to the Championship after their relegation from the Premier League.
They will face off against Coventry City in the M69 derby on Sunday, following the play-off finals disappointment for Coventry.
Leeds United, who also dropped out of the Premier League last season, will face Cardiff City in their opening game. It will be an intriguing contest as both teams aim to make a strong start and push for promotion.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town, one of the promoted sides, will travel to face Sunderland in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Ipswich will be eager to prove themselves in the Championship after their successful campaign in League One.
League One champions Plymouth Argyle will begin their Championship journey with a home game against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, 5th August.
After their impressive performance in the lower division, Plymouth will be hoping to continue their momentum and make an impact in the Championship.
The opening weekend of the Championship will feature a total of eight matches scheduled for 3:00 PM BST on Saturday, 4th August.
Among the highlights are Middlesbrough’s clash with Millwall and Blackburn Rovers’ encounter with West Bromwich Albion.
Unlike the previous season, which had a temporary break due to the World Cup, there will be no such interruption this time around.
The 2023-2024 Championship season will conclude on Sunday, 4th May 2024, ensuring a continuous and thrilling football experience for fans throughout the campaign.
First round of fixtures – Championship 2023-2024
Friday, 4 August
Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton [20:00 BST]
Saturday, 5 August
Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Bristol City v Preston North End
Middlesbrough v Millwall
Norwich City v Hull City
Plymouth Argyle v Huddersfield Town
Queens Park Rangers v Watford
Stoke City v Rotherham United
Swansea City v Birmingham City
Sunday, 6 August
Leicester City v Coventry City [12:00 BST]
Leeds United v Cardiff City [14:30 BST]
Sunderland v Ipswich Town [17:00 BST]
