Middlesbrough will take on Sheffield Wednesday on Thursday, 26 December in a huge match in the race for the Championship playoffs.
Middlesbrough come into the match in sixth position but after failing to beat Plymouth last time out, they are only above West Brom in seventh on goal difference.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, are in ninth position just three points behind Boro so a win here for the Owls would move them level with them.
As part of our festive Championship betting tips, here is our Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wednesday prediction.
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Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wednesday prediction: The hosts to edge it
Key stats
- Middlesbrough have won their last two matches at the Riverside.
- Sheffield Wednesday have won their last two Championship matches but haven't won three in a row all season.
- Both teams have scored in four of Middlesbrough's last five matches.
Correct score prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
This should be an excellent contest between two evenly matched teams managed by two men who are getting absolutely everything out of their respective squads. Home advantage should mean Boro get over the line but Sheffield Wednesday have scored at least once in each of their last three away matches so should put up a fight.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts start as favourites
- HOME: 4/6 (1.67) – 60%
- DRAW: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%
- AWAY: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wednesday odds are surprisingly heavily weighted in favour of Middlesbrough despite both teams only being separated by three points in the league table. Ladbrokes have given the hosts a 60% chance of winning on Boxing Day while Sheffield Wednesday have been given just a 21.7% chance of walking away with the three points.
Check out our betting tips today page for more Championship predictions this week.
Most recent H2Hs: Advantage Middlesbrough
This is match-up that has been kind to Middlesbrough in recent years and Michael Carrick's men are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Owls. Sheffield Wednesday have only won one of the last six head-to-heads and their last win at the Riverside came back in September 2019.
England Championship 01/04/24
Middlesbrough
Sheff Wed
England Championship 19/09/23
Sheff Wed
Middlesbrough
England Championship 24/04/21
Middlesbrough
Sheff Wed
England Championship 29/12/20
Sheff Wed
Middlesbrough
England Championship 22/07/20
Sheff Wed
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough preview: Clinging on to sixth place
Middlesbrough look more like the team that finished fourth in the 2022/23 season than they did last season but there are still question marks about the overall quality of the squad. Carrick is doing a brilliant job of extracting everything he can from them but whether that's sustainable for 46 games remains to be seen.
Predicted lineup: Brynn (GK), Dijksteel, Van den Berg, Fry, Borges, Hackney, Barlaser, Doak, Azaz, McGree, Latte Lath
England Championship 03/05/25
L
Coventry
2
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 26/04/25
D
Norwich
0
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Sheff Wed
2
Middlesbrough
1
England Championship 18/04/25
W
Plymouth
1
Middlesbrough
2
England Championship 12/04/25
L
Millwall
1
Middlesbrough
0
Sheffield Wednesday preview: As close as they've been in a long time
This is as close as Sheffield Wednesday have been to promotion to the Premier League in many years and Danny Rohl is bordering on becoming an Owls legend if he can achieve the unthinkable. The German is being linked with several jobs in higher leagues but it appears he will at least see this campaign out at Hillsborough.
Predicted lineup: Beadle (GK), Iorfa, Palmer, Lowe, Valery, Bannan, Charles, Johnson, Windass, Smith, Gassama
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Watford
1
Sheff Wed
1
England Championship 26/04/25
D
Portsmouth
1
Sheff Wed
1
England Championship 21/04/25
W
Middlesbrough
1
Sheff Wed
2
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Stoke
2
Sheff Wed
0
England Championship 12/04/25
L
Oxford Utd
1
Sheff Wed
0