Middlesbrough, Swansea Open Championship Season with Key Debuts

The 2025 Championship season opener between Middlesbrough and Swansea City features new head coaches for both sides, with Alan Sheehan beginning his first full term at Swansea and Rob Edwards making his league debut for Middlesbrough. Swansea aims to avenge last season's narrow defeat at Middlesbrough, while Middlesbrough seeks to continue their strong home record against Swansea, having won their last five home league matches against them. Key players for Swansea making their competitive debuts include Cameron Burgess and Kaelan Casey, although fitness doubts remain for captain Ben Cabango and Zan Vipotnik. Middlesbrough, under Edwards, is undergoing tactical changes as they try to improve on last season's performance and mount a promotion challenge. The broader Championship season starts with high expectations for promoted teams like Ipswich Town and Coventry City, while established clubs such as Southampton and Birmingham City are tipped for playoff contention. Middlesbrough's Riley McGree is a notable threat, having scored three goals in his last five league appearances against Swansea, underscoring the competitive nature of this fixture.