Stoke City vs Reading

Bet365 Stadium is the venue as Stoke City and Reading go head-to-head in their 2021/22 Championship opener.

Stoke City head into their fourth consecutive Championship season following an underwhelming 14th-place finish in 2020/21. Stoke ended last league campaign with a 2-0 away triumph over Bournemouth, halting a streak of six straight Championship fixtures without winning (D2, L4). Following several high-profile summer departures, the ‘Potters’ are given only outside chances of returning to the top-flight. Unfortunately, Stoke can’t find much comfort in their last season’s home form, as witnessed by an indifferent return of nine wins from 23 Championship home matches (W9, D5, L9). Additionally, since claiming a 2-0 home win over Burnley in their 2009/10 Premier League curtain-raiser, the hosts have gone winless in their subsequent 11 league openers (D4, L7). Entertainment could be in short supply here, as three of their last five league H2Hs have witnessed the same 0-0 scoreline.

As for Reading, their wait for a top-flight return stretched to an eighth consecutive season following a seven-place finish in 2020/21. After falling one place short from the Championship play-off zone last season, Reading will at least hope to maintain an impressive defensive record that saw them concede an average of just 1.17 goals per match in 2020/21. Prone to sluggish starts, the ‘Royals’ have ended up on the losing side in three of their last four league openers (W1). If last season’s trend was to continue, Reading could upset their hosts late in the first half, with 32% of their 25 away league goals scored in 2020/21 coming between the 31st minute and half-time.