Championship action returns to Carrow Road this weekend, as a new-look Norwich City side host Millwall on the opening weekend of the second-tier campaign.
EFL Championship
Our Three Predictions For Norwich City vs Millwall:
- First Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Match Result – Norwich City – 1/1
- Second Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Over 2.5 Goals – 11/10
- Third Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 17/20
First Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Match Result – Norwich City – 1/1
Opening games are always incredibly difficult to call, with no form to base predictions on. Both these sides’ seasons ended in disappointment, with Millwall falling shy of a Play-Off place on the final day. Norwich, meanwhile, have recruited extremely well on paper, making the most of their outward activity and the fees received. With a new man in charge, the highly-rated Liam Manning, expect a little buffer period as this new-look side begins to gel. Nevertheless, the Canaries should have enough firepower to see off Millwall on the opening day.
Second Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Over 2.5 Goals – 11/10
A new-look Canaries attack will provide plenty of problems for Millwall. With Borja Sainz and Jonathan Rowe gone, along with the uncertainty surrounding Josh Sargent’s future, there are plenty of question marks over who will replace their goals. For the visitors, they will be hoping to have Josh Coburn to call on for the entire campaign, after he only featured in a dozen Championship games. Their encounters last term were typically narrow affairs, often determined by only a single goal. But a new season may bring a different approach from Alex Neil’s side, meaning goals may be more likely come Saturday afternoon.
Third Prediction For Norwich City vs Millwall: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 17/20
Looking at past meetings, the chances of both sides scoring appears high. Only once in the last five meetings between the two clubs has there not been that feat, with Norwich recording a thrilling four-three victory back in 2018. Nevertheless, there were two goalless meetings in more recent times, though both came amid the backdrop of empty stadiums in the 2021/21 campaign. New-look defences also means that both may lack cohesion in that area, so expect both teams to find the scoresheet in this Championship opener on Saturday.
Best Odds For Norwich City vs Millwall
| Bookmaker | Norwich City | Draw | Millwall |
| MyriadPlay | 1/1 | 11/5 | 13/5 |
| Gentleman Jim | 1/1 | 9/4 | 5/2 |
| Betarno | 20/21 | 9/4 | 13/5 |
The table above shows the latest odds from leading football betting websites.
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head:
If Norwich City are serious about promotion, then the appointment of Liam Manning is a big first step in doing so. Four years of yo-yoing between the top two tiers ended with two Championship titles, but the same number of basement finishes in the Premier League. Following the second of those relegations, the Canaries have spent three seasons in the top tier of the EFL, twice finishing in thirteenth spot. Even in the year they finished inside the top six, Leeds United were comfortable winners in their Play-Off tie, losing four-nil at Elland Road after a stalemate in the first leg. Last term, the Canaries still harboured ambitions of another top-six finish, but ultimately ended the campaign with a run of two wins from twelve, including four defeats from five. Ultimately, they finished the year nine points adrift of sixth-place Bristol City, with an injury crisis at the end of 2024 also contributing to their thirteenth-place finish.
With a new man in charge, Norwich have been busy over the summer. Their business has been largely funded by the £25m received for Jonathan Rowe and Borja Sainz, who both completed moves to the continent with Marseille and Porto, respectively. Goalkeepers Vicente Reyes (Peterborough United), Angus Gunn and Archie Mair (free agents) have also departed Carrow Road this summer, joining Jacob Sørensen, who left for the Norwegian top tier. Arriving in the other direction from Scandinavia, Mathias Kvistgaarden arrives on a big-money deal from Brondby IF. The Canaries have further strengthened their attack with Papa Amadou Diallo (FC Metz) and Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace), while Jovon Makama has also signed for the club from Lincoln City in recent days for a seven-figure fee. Defensive midfield duo Mirko Topic and Jacob Wright have signed from Famalicão and Manchester City, respectively, while goalkeeper Vladan Kovačević was also acquired from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon. Finally, Harry Darling (Swansea City) and Daniel Grimshaw (Plymouth Argyle) will provide some resolve at the back.
Millwall have been the nearly men of the Championship in recent years, finishing in eighth position four times in the past eight campaigns since promotion from League One. Having never played Premier League football, the Lions are desperate for a crack at the top tier for the first time in 35 years. Aside from a near miss with relegation in 2018/19, Millwall have regularly finished comfortably in mid-table or above since winning promotion from League One via the Play-Offs in 2017. Last season, a late surge kept them in contention for a place in the end-of-season competition until the final day of the campaign. A magnificent April, bar a heavy Good Friday loss at Blackburn Rovers, saw Alex Neil’s side win five of their six games that month, including successive single-goal victories over heavyweights Sheffield United and Middlesbrough. Heading into the final day level on points with sixth-place Coventry City, a tough assignment at Turf Moor proved a step too far. Burnley ran out three-one winners, though the Clarets were ultimately unsuccessful in their ambitions of winning the second-tier title.
There is only one place to start when looking at the Lions’ summer business: Josh Coburn. Last season’s loanee completed a club-record transfer to East London for a fee believed to be up to £5m, after netting four times in twelve Championship games during an injury-hit campaign. Massimo Luongo was a smart pickup from relegated Ipswich Town, while they dipped into the third tier to sign Max Crocombe and Alfie Doughty from Burton Albion and Luton Town, respectively. Steven Benda further strengthens the goalkeeping department, on loan from Fulham, while Zak Sturge was acquired on a permanent deal from the Cottagers’ West London rivals, Chelsea. Coburn’s arrival was funded by the multi-million pound deal that saw Zian Flemming complete a permanent move to promoted Burnley. Aaron Connolly, George Saville, George Honeyman, Murray Wallace, and Liam Roberts have also departed the Lions for League One clubs.
Confrontation |
Where To Watch Norwich City vs Millwall:
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
- Location: Carrow Road, Norwich
- Date: Saturday 9th August, 2025
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+
Probable Lineups For Norwich City vs Millwall:
Predicted Norwich City Lineup:
- Lineup: Kovačević, Stacey, Medić, Darling, Chrisene, Wright, Núñez, Forson, Crnac, Diallo, Sargent
- Suspended/Injured: McLean, Mahovo, Adeboyega, Gibbs, Springett
- Coach: Liam Manning
Predicted Millwall Lineup:
- Lineup: Crocombe, Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Leonard, Neghli, Cundle, De Norre, Azeez, Ivanović, Coburn
- Suspended/Injured: Jensen, McNamara
- Coach: Alex Neil
