Oxford United vs Norwich Championship prediction: U’s face tough opening 2024/25 fixture
Oxford will play their first Championship game in 25 years as they welcome Norwich City to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
Oxford United vs Norwich City prediction: U’s face tough opening Championship fixture
Oxford vs Norwich latest prediction
Betting tips
Oxford 0-2 Norwich (11/1 with Paddy Power)
Norwich scored at least two goals in 11 of their 23 away games in the Championship last season.
Josh Sargent to score anytime (17/10 with Midnite)
With Gabriel Sara leaving, Norwich will rely even more on Josh Sargent’s goals. The American scored 16 in the Championship last season, at an average of 0.72 in what was an injury-hit campaign.
Norwich to win to nil (100/30 with Sky Bet)
Norwich weren’t great on the road in the Championship last season, but they face an Oxford side making their first second-tier appearance this century.
For the first time since the 1998/99 campaign, Oxford United will play in the second division of English football.
It’s been a tough road back for the Yellows, going all the way down to non-league football and back up again, securing their spot in the Championship for 2024/25 with a 2-0 play-off final victory over Bolton at Wembley. After Oxford finished fifth, 15 points off the automatic promotion places, many fancied Bolton to join to Portsmouth and Derby in the Championship this season. But Des Buckingham’s men caused an upset to finally get back to where they belong.
First up is a home game against Norwich City, who also found themselves in the play-off picture last campaign, finishing in sixth despite losing to relegated Birmingham on the final day. The Canaries were routinely beaten by Leeds in the semi-finals, however, as the Whites secured a 4-0 victory in the second leg at Elland Road.
That result saw the end of manager of David Wagner, with Johannes Hoff Thorup taking over after a year in charge of Nordsjælland in his native Denmark. The 35-year-old is highly rated and has been tasked with getting the club back to the big time and most importanly keep them there if they do manage to get out of the division.
Oxford host Norwich at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday 10th August at 12:30pm.
How to watch Oxford United vs Norwich live
This game will be broadcast live on Saturday 10th August at 12:30pm on Sky Sports+.
Oxford United team news
In a huge blow, last season’s play-off hero Josh Murphy has decided to join Portsmouth on a free transfer. But Oxford have brought in a host of new faces to boost their squad for the Championship.
Matt Phillips, Louie Sibley, Will Vaulks, Jamie Cumming and Przemyslaw Placheta have all joined on free transfers, while Peter Kioso, Jack Currie and Idris El Mizouni have also arrived for small cash fees. Malcolm Ebiowei has also joined on loan from Crystal Palace.
Norwich team news
It’s all change at the back this year for the Canaries with Jose Cordoba joining from Levski Sofia and Ben Gibson, Sam McAllum and Dimitri Giannoulis leaving for pastures new. Forward Christos Tzolis has also joined Fortuna Dusseldorf, while Callum Doyle and Ben Chrisene have moved from Man City on loan and Aston Villa respectively. But the biggest blow came very recently, with Gabriel Sara leaving for Galatasaray after his 25 goal involvements last season.
Oxford United vs Norwich head-to-head
This will be the first league meeting between these sides in 25 years, with Norwich winning that match 4-2.
| Oxford United vs Norwich H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 24/04/99 | Oxford 2-4 Norwich | Manor Ground, Oxford | |||||
| 29/11/98 | Norwich 1-3 Oxford | Carrow Road, Norwich | |||||
| 28/03/98 | Oxford 2-0 Norwich | Manor Ground, Oxford | |||||
| 22/11/97 | Norwich 2-1 Oxford | Carrow Road, Norwich | |||||
| 31/03/97 | Norwich 1-1 Oxford | Carrow Road, Norwich | |||||
| 04/09/96 | Norwich 2-3 Oxford | Carrow Road, Norwich | |||||
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