Eng. Championship
2025-08-09 - Oxford Utd vs Portsmouth
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football : England: Championship
Venue: Kassam Stadium
Saturday 9th August 2025, 1500hrs (GMT)
Oxford United will entertain Portsmouth in their opening home game of this new Championship season at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon with The U’s looking to pick up where they left off at the end of last season’s campaign.
Gary Rowett’s side ended last term with a three-match unbeaten sequence which earned Oxford United a 17th place finish upon their return to the English second tier and Rowett will be keen to help lift his side at least into the top half of the table this season.
Points gained in draws with Cardiff City and Swansea City were boosted by a solid 2-0 home win against promoted Sunderland and having picked up victories against Mansfield Town and Spanish side Malaga in pre-season, The U’s will fancy their chances of picking up at least a point here.
Portsmouth finished just one league place and one point above their upcoming hosts Oxford United at the end of last season’s Championship campaign but they too can consider last season as a success as the south coast club comfortably avoided any relegation dramas.
Pompey had also been promoted from League One at the end of the 2023/24 season as they won the third tier title and John Mousinho’s side finished last term in positive fashion as they strung together a five-match unbeaten sequence to end on a high.
Wins against Norwich City and Watford were bolstered by picking up three draws against the likes of Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City but Portsmouth’s results away from home will have been cause for concern for Mousinho and his staff as the south coast club ended with a poor away record of 3-5-15 25/50.
The Betting Verdict
Only one point separated Oxford United and Portsmouth last season in the Championship and having shared draws in four of their last six meetings, another stalemate looks to be on the cards here.
The Pick :
Oxford Utd 1-1 Portsmouth
