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Oxford United will host Norwich City at Kassam Stadium on Saturday in the opening round of the 2024-25 English Championship campaign. The home side have returned to the English second tier for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign after seeing off Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers in the League One promotion playoffs last season.
They have, however, had mixed results in their pre-season campaign so far, picking up a surprise 2-0 win over Southampton last month before losing 2-0 to Italian outfit Palermo in their final friendly outing.
Norwich City performed well in the Championship last season but ran out of steam at the back end of the campaign as they ultimately lost out to Leeds United in the promotion playoffs. They have now appointed former Nordsjælland boss Johannes Thorup as new head coach as they look to return to the English Premier League.
The Canaries have endured an underwhelming display during the off-season under the Dane as they won just one of their six friendly outings and will be desperate for a positive start to proceedings in the Championship this weekend.
Oxford United vs Norwich City Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- There have been 23 meetings between Oxford and Norwich. The hosts have won seven of those games while the visitors have won 11 times. There have been five draws between the two teams.
- The two sides last faced off in a league clash back in April 1999 which the Canaries won 4-2.
- The Yellows have managed just one clean sheet in their last nine games in this fixture.
- 11 of Norwich's 15 league defeats last season came on the road.
Oxford United vs Norwich City Prediction
Oxford have lost three of their last four games after losing just one of their previous eight. They have, however, lost just one of their last six competitive games on home turf and will be hopeful of a positive result here.
Norwich are on a five-game winless streak and have won just one of their last 11 matches. They have had their struggles on the road in recent times but should have just enough to come out on top against significantly weaker opposition this weekend.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-2 Norwich City
Oxford United vs Norwich City Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Norwich City to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Four of the last six matches between the two teams have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in five of their last six matchups)
