Our prediction for this Championship match:
Preston
Match Time & Date:
09/08/2024
21:00
Prediction: 1-2
Sheffield United
Deepdale will host Friday’s football game between Preston and Sheffield United, the two teams who meet for the first time since April 2023. Back then Sheffield United crushed Preston 4-1 in the Championship, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge. The Lilywhites were having their ups and downs in preseason, but a 2-1 win over Fiorentina is surely fuelling fans with optimism ahead of the season opener. The club chiefs did well to keep hold of influential attacker Willie Keane, with the likes of Ben Woodburn, Greg Cunningham, and Alan Browne joining the Deepdale outfit on a free transfer.
The Blades, on the other hand, were producing fine performances in warm-up games, with the team beating the likes of York City, Chesterfield, Harrogate, and Rotherham, while sharing the spoils with Huddersfield. Sheffield United are a more experienced side than Preston and seeing that the likes of Harry Souttar, Sam McCallum, Jamie Shackleton, Callum O’Hare, Kieffer Moore, and Harrison Burrows joined the Bramall Lane outfit earlier this summer, away win should be considered.
Highlighted Player (Greg Cunningham):
Greg Cunningham is a product of Manchester City football academy. Irish footballer, who was born on January 31, 1991 in Galway, though, made no more than two appearances for Manchester City in the Premier League. After ending his loan spells with Leicester City and Nottingham Forest the defender moved to Bristol City in 2012 and he played for the Robins from 2012 to 2015.
Creg Cunningham did well to win the Football League Trophy with Bristol City in the 2014/2015 season, but at the end of the season he moved to Preston North End. The Irish footballer has established himself as a first-team regular at Preston and it has to be noted that he was appointed captain of the team on July 24, 2017.
Speaking of his international career, Greg Cunningham made his debut for Republic of Ireland on May 28, 2010 in a 3-0 win over Algeria. His main position is left-back, but he is capable of playing as a centre-back if needed as well.
Highlighted Team (Sheffield United):
Sheffield United are a professional football club that compete in the Championship. The Blades finished the 2016/2017 League One campaign in top position in the standings, with the team collecting exactly 100 points in the process. Sheffield United last competed in the Premier League in the 2006/2007 season and they were more than unfortunate not to secure the top flight survival.
The Blades finished the season in 18th place in the process and it has to be noted that they were level on points with Wigan Athletic, who managed to avoid the relegation to the English second tier. Sheffield United welcome their rivals at Bramal Lane, the stadium which was opened on April 30, 1855. The current capacity of the venue is 32.702.
The club have numerous rivalries, but the most notable one is the rivalry with their city neighbors Sheffield Wednesday. The two teams face each other in the Steel City derby and it has to be noted that United share rivalry with the likes of Barnsley, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United as well.
Everton
Peterborough
Fulham
Watford 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayer Leverkusen 
Lazio
Como
Aston Villa 
West Ham
Bristol City 
Wolves
