Charlton host Watford in the capital for their opening game of the 2025-26 Championship season on Saturday 9th August at 12:30pm. The Addicks are back in the second tier for the first time since 2020, while Watford slumped to a 14th-placed finish in the Championship last term. This game can be viewed live on Sky Sports via the red button. Find our match preview and prediction below.
Charlton to Win (8/5 with BetMGM)
Charlton enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 season and are now back in the Championship. Nathan Jones’ side won nine of their last 10 home league games, drawing the other one at the end of last season, and will hope their rock-solid Valley record can carry them forward in this new campaign.
Watford, on the other hand, have struggled away from Vicarage Road. The Hornets lost their last five consecutive matches on the road last season, and with a party atmosphere at Charlton on Saturday, they may struggle once more.
Charlton to Win to Nil (17/5 with William Hill)
Charlton conceded only one goal in their last five home games in League One and held firm in several tight wins. Watford haven’t scored more than one goal away from home since the start of February and failed to score at both Portsmouth and Oxford at the end of 2024-25
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How both teams go into Charlton vs Watford
Charlton returned to the Championship following a solid promotion campaign under Nathan Jones, finishing fourth in League One with 84 points, before going on to achieve promotion via the playoffs. The Addicks combined defensive resilience with a high-tempo press that suffocated opposition midfielders, conceding less than a goal a game across the league season. Their expected goal difference (+20.4 xGD) was one of the best in the division, underlining the balance between tactical discipline and attacking threat.
Watford, meanwhile, endured a turbulent 2024–25 Championship season, finishing 14th with 60 points (W16 D9 L21) in a campaign marked by inconsistency. Former boss Tom Cleverley was replaced in May by Carlos Corberan, becoming the 18th permanent manager at the club since 2013. The summer has seen significant turnover, with players like Mileta Rajovic and Angelo Ogbonna departing. At the same time, fresh blood has arrived in the form of Nestory Irankunda, Othmane Maamma, and Nathan Baxter. Much will depend on whether Corberan can instil tactical cohesion in a relatively reshaped squad this term.
Charlton team news
Former Blackburn Rovers trio Thomas Kaminski, Amari’i Bell and Joe Rankin-Costello have all signed for Charlton over the summer, and all three will be pushing for starts against Watford on the opening day of the campaign.
Watford team news
At the time of writing, Watford boss Carlos Corberan has a fully fit squad to choose from as his side make the short trip to Charlton.
Charlton vs Watford head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Charlton and Watford in ten years. The last time the pair met, Waford came out 5-0 winners, but it’s Charlton who have won three of the last five meetings.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 17/01/15 | Watford 5-0 Chalrton | Championship |
| 13/09/14 | Charlton 1-0 Watford | Championship |
| 29/04/14 | Charlton 3-1 Watford | Championship |
| 14/09/13 | Watford 1-1 Charlton | Championship |
| 01/01/13 | Watford 3-4 Charlton | Championship |