- Fixture: Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town
- Date & Time: Friday 8th August 2025, 20:00 (BST)
- Venue: St. Andrew's, Birmingham, England
The new EFL Championship returns with Birmingham City hosting Ipswich Town at St. Andrew’s on Friday night.
The Blues are fresh from a record breaking promotion League One campaign. They have invested significantly in the playing staff and are one of the favourites for promotion to the Premier League.
Ipswich Town have just suffered relegation from the top flight. The Tractor Boys only managed one season in the promised land of the Premier League.
But with Kieran McKenna still in charge and the majority of last season's squad still at Portman Road, Town will expect to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Check out our match betting tips and prediction below. For more EFL Championship predictions and tips, bookmark our football betting tips page.
Match Odds
(Odds subject to change — please check with your bookmaker for latest prices)
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Birmingham City Win | 2.60 (13/8) |
| Draw | 3.20 (11/5) |
| Ipswich Town Win | 2.75 (7/4) |
Betting Tips
🔹 Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80
There's only preseason form to go on, which is no real indicator. It's hard to see Birmingham not scoring at home on the opening night of the season. But likewise, it's hard not to see Ipswich Town also finding the back of the bet. We can also see a 2-1 win for either team in this match, probably the Blues, given their home advantage.
🔹 Both Teams to Score (BTTS): Yes @ 2.00
As with above, we expect to see Birmingham find the bet at least once. It's hard to see Ipswich Town, with their Premier League pedigree, not finding the net.
🔹 Anytime Goalscorer: Jay Stansfield (Birmingham) @ 3.40
Stansfield showed flashes of promise last season and is expected to lead the line for Birmingham in this opener. With a Euro Under-21 Championship medal won in the summer, Stansfield will be relishing the chance to further enhance his reputation in the Championship this season.
Match Prediction:
Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town
Home advantage could be the difference between the two teams. Birmingham will want to lay down an early marker in the Championship and we expect to see the Blues come out of the blocks quickly.
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