Football News Update: Euro 2024, Champions League, and More
As the football world eagerly awaits the start of the new season, our expert delves into three potential Championship outsiders that could challenge for promotion this term.
The Championship is always a fiercely-contested division, and the majority of the teams in the second tier will feel they are capable of securing a top-six finish and a place in the play-offs. While the dream of promotion to the Premier League is a common one, actually achieving it is another challenge altogether. However, the play-offs offer hope to many sides as the campaign progresses.
According to the latest Championship Top 6 Odds from BetMGM, the race for promotion is set to be as thrilling as ever.
Watford
Watford, a recent Premier League club, will be among the sides aiming to secure a play-off spot. The Hornets may not be strong enough to compete for automatic promotion, but a top-six finish could be within their reach. After a promising start last season, they experienced a slump, but the appointment of former midfielder Tom Cleverley as the permanent manager has brought stability and optimism.
Bristol City
Bristol City, who finished 11th last season, are another team with aspirations of challenging for the play-offs. Despite their inconsistency, they managed to finish the campaign strongly, and with the highly-rated Liam Manning at the helm, they are expected to build on that momentum. Their impressive pre-season form, which has seen them win all four friendlies while conceding just one goal, has further fueled the belief that they can make a push for the top six.
Cardiff City
Cardiff City, the final team in our spotlight, finished 12th last season, level on points with Bristol City. The Bluebirds have kept faith with manager Erol Bulut, handing him a two-year contract extension despite some heavy defeats towards the end of the previous campaign. As one of the biggest clubs in the Championship, Cardiff will be targeting a return to the Premier League, although they will need to show significant improvement to muscle in on the top-six race.
With the new Championship season just around the corner, these three teams will be aiming to prove their critics wrong and emerge as the surprise packages of the campaign. Football fans can look forward to an exciting and unpredictable race for promotion, with the play-offs offering hope to those sides that may not be able to secure automatic advancement.
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