Charlton will welcome Watford to the Valley on Saturday afternoon in their first game in the Championship after being promoted from League One. Indeed, the Addicks earned promotion up to the second tier of English football via the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Watford finished in 14th place in the Championship, and will be hoping to at least break into the top half of the table this season. After yet another managerial change for the Hornets though, it is anyone's guess how the players will adapt to another new voice in the changing room.
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Key stats
- Charlton won four and lost just one of their six pre-season friendlies heading into this clash.
- Watford were unbeaten in four pre-season friendlies prior to this match, winning two of them.
- Charlton have only lost one of the previous five H2Hs in all competitions.
Correct score prediction: Charlton 2-2 Watford
Given the most recent H2Hs, we are predicting plenty of goals to be scored in this one. Both teams enjoyed a stellar pre-season campaign, and so both should be confident of getting a positive result.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Charlton trusted by bookmakers
- HOME: 6/4 (2.50) – 40.0%
- DRAW: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
- AWAY: 9/5 (2.80) – 35.7%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Despite being a newly-promoted side to the division, Charlton have been installed as favourites by bookmakers to claim all three points on home soil. Watford can be backed to win away from home at just over 35% with bookmakers, while a draw is rated at just over 30% according to the implied probabilities.
Most recent H2Hs: Charlton hold their own
As mentioned before, Charlton have only lost one of the last five H2Hs in all competitions, which should give them the confidence that they can hold their own against Watford. However, the previous meeting ended in a 5-0 to the Hornets in 2015.
England Championship 17/01/15
Watford
Charlton
England Championship 13/09/14
Charlton
Watford
England Championship 29/04/14
Charlton
Watford
Charlton preview: Number of new signings to make debuts
Charlton could give a number of their new signings from the summer transfer window their debuts on the Championship's opening weekend. Charlie Kelman, Harvey Knibbs, Tanto Olaofe and Thomas Kaminski are among the names that could find themselves in the Addicks' starting XI.
Predicted lineup: Kaminski (GK); Jones, Gillesphey, Burke; Rankin-Costello, Docherty, Coventry, Bell; Knibbs, Kelman & Olaofe
England League 1 11/05/25
D
Wycombe
0
Charlton
0
England League 1 03/05/25
W
Burton Albion
1
Charlton
3
England League 1 26/04/25
L
Wrexham
3
Charlton
0
England League 1 21/04/25
W
Wycombe
0
Charlton
4
England League 1 18/04/25
W
Northampton
1
Charlton
2
Watford preview: Three new signings to start?
Very much like their opponents, Watford could hand full debuts to a number of new signings. Marc Bola, Hector Kyprianou and Luca Kjerrumgaard are among the players that could be named in the starting XI for the Hornets.
Predicted lineup: Selvik (GK); Ngakia, Pollock, Abankwah, Bola; Louza, Kyprianou; Baah, Sissoko, Doumbia & Kjerrumgaard
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Sheff Wed
1
Watford
1
England Championship 26/04/25
L
Blackburn
2
Watford
1
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Portsmouth
1
Watford
0
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Burnley
2
Watford
1
England Championship 12/04/25
L
West Brom
2
Watford
1
Player to watch: Charlie Kelman
One of Charlton's key signings of the summer transfer window so far is Charlie Kelman, interestingly from the club that they beat in the League One play-off final earlier this year in Leyton Orient. The striker scored an impressive 21 goals in the division last season, and is expected to lead the line for the Addicks.