2025-26 Sky Bet Championship: Week One – Saturday

Southampton face newly-promoted Wrexham in a stand-out clash on the opening Saturday of 2025-26 Sky Bet Championship. 

This game marks Southampton’s return to the Championship after their relegation from the Premier League, whilst Wrexham are back in the second tier since 1981-82 season.

 

Team News

Southampton will be without Joe Aribo, Tyler Dibling and Samuel Edozie due to uncertainty over their futures at the club.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis (ankle), Will Smallbone (calf) and James Bree (unspecified) are sidelined.

Wrexham could be without George Thomason after he missed their final two pre-season friendlies due to a thigh injury.

Ollie Rathbone and Jay Rodriguez (both ankle) are ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Southampton host Wrexham at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 9 August at 12:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Southampton have won two of four previous EFL league meetings against Wrexham (W2, L2).
• Wrexham have won one of two previous EFL visits to Southampton (W1, L1), which saw them take a 2-1 victory in September 1958 then lose 3-0 in November 1959.
• This is Southampton’s first meeting against Wrexham in the 21st century across all competitions.
• Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer were Southampton’s joint top goalscorers in pre-season with three goals apiece.
• Wrexham kept just one clean sheet in pre-season (W1, L4).

 

Prediction

With Will Still now in charge and deploying a high-pressing style, Southampton certainly showed their attacking flair in pre-season with goals in all but one match, yet they managed no clean sheets which has to be a worry given that the defence was their own enemy last season.

Wrexham meanwhile have added quality upgrades to their squad but after a pretty difficult pre-season in terms of results, this game is probably going to be a case of staying defensively tight and hitting the Saints on the counter with their strong long ball and wide play threats.

Southampton however should prove just too strong given how well they’ve adapted to Still’s style already coupled with their superior experience in quality.

Prediction: Southampton 2-1 Wrexham