The 2025/26 EFL Championship season is set to kick off with a bang as Charlton Athletic, fresh from their triumphant return to England’s second tier, welcome Watford to The Valley on Saturday, August 9, 2025. It’s a fixture loaded with intrigue, history, and the kind of anticipation only an opening day can bring. Both teams have plenty to prove—Charlton, the ambitious new boys with momentum on their side, and Watford, a club in transition, eager to shake off last season’s mid-table mediocrity.
Charlton’s return to the Championship has been five years in the making. Their promotion was secured in dramatic fashion on May 25, when Macaulay Gillesphey’s Wembley winner against Leyton Orient sent the Addicks’ faithful into raptures. Since then, manager Nathan Jones has wasted no time reshaping his squad, blending the core of last year’s promotion heroes with a raft of summer signings designed to add depth, flexibility, and a touch of Championship know-how.
Among the new arrivals, Thomas Kaminski brings stability between the posts after his move from Luton Town. Defensive reinforcements include Amari’i Bell and Reece Burke, also from Luton, providing steel and experience at the back. In midfield and attack, Joe Rankin-Costello (Blackburn Rovers), Sonny Carey (Blackpool), Harvey Knibbs (Reading), and the lively Charlie Kelman (QPR) are set to play key roles. Tanto Olaofe, snapped up from Stockport County, and Rob Apter add further options in the final third, while only Thierry Small (Preston North End) has departed in a significant way. It’s a statement of intent from Jones, who’s clearly determined to avoid a quick return to League One.
Charlton’s home form could be their ace in the hole. The Addicks haven’t lost a league match at The Valley since December 3, a run of 15 unbeaten home games that has seen them win 13 and concede just twice. Their attacking verve is evident—Charlton have scored two or more goals in two-thirds of their last six matches, and the team’s tactical flexibility, switching between a disciplined 4-2-3-1 and a more adventurous 3-4-2-1, has kept opponents guessing. The emotional energy will be sky-high, too, as supporters prepare to honor club legend Chris Powell MBE before kickoff.
For the opener, Kaminski is expected to start in goal, with Bell, Burke, Rankin-Costello, Carey, Apter, Kelman, Olaofe, Knibbs, Campbell, and Terell Thomas likely to make up the starting eleven. There are a few fitness concerns—Matty Godden (knee) is doubtful after missing pre-season, while Luke Berry and Willia Mannion are also under question—but overall, Jones has a strong hand to play.
Watford, meanwhile, are entering yet another new era. After finishing 14th last season and enduring a miserable run of five straight away defeats to close the campaign, the Hornets have turned to Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach. Pezzolano arrives with a reputation for guiding teams to promotion in Uruguay, Brazil, and Spain, but he’s an unknown quantity in English football. The task ahead is daunting: rebuild a squad, instill a new philosophy, and reverse a poor away record that saw Watford lose 14 of their 23 road games last season, scoring less than one goal per away match on average.
Pezzolano’s summer signings reflect a mix of promise and pragmatism. Australian wonderkid Nestory Irankunda, signed from Bayern Munich, is the headline arrival, though he’s expected to be eased into action—likely featuring from the bench on Saturday. On-loan Udinese striker Luca Kjerrumgaard, who netted 22 times in Denmark last season, could start, while Hector Kyprianou (Peterborough United) and Vivaldo Semeso (Udinese) add further depth. Nathan Baxter (goalkeeper) and Marc Bola (left-back) are also in line for debuts. Caleb Wiley (Chelsea) returns on loan after a solid spell last term, and Othmane Maamma (Montpellier), if fit, could provide guile in attack, though he missed all of pre-season. The probable lineup includes Baxter, Bola, Abankwah, Keben, Hoedt, Kyprianou, Louza, Ince, Irankunda, Maamma, and Semedo.
Watford’s tactical approach under Pezzolano is still a work in progress. He favors either a possession-based 4-3-3 or a more conservative 4-2-3-1, with an eye for quick transitions. But with so many new faces and a need to gel, cohesion could be a problem—especially against a Charlton side buzzing with confidence and continuity. Expect Watford to sit deep, absorb pressure, and try to strike on the counter, with Irankunda’s pace and Maamma’s creativity the main threats.
Recent history and the bookies both give Charlton the edge. The Addicks are priced at 6/4 to win (a 40% implied chance), while Watford are out at 2/1 (33.3%), and the draw is 9/4. SportyTrader’s model is even more bullish, giving Charlton a 60.3% chance of victory. The stats back it up: Charlton’s home record is formidable, and Watford’s away woes are hard to ignore. Both teams tend to score when these sides meet—six of the last eight head-to-heads have seen goals at both ends—but early-season nerves could keep things tight. Under 2.5 goals is a popular pick at 1.71 odds, while Charlton to win to nil is a tempting 3.95.
Discipline might also play a role. Watford’s Moussa Sissoko is tipped at 12/5 to receive a card, having picked up six yellows and a red last season. Sissoko, who returned from Nantes last summer, is known for his combative style and could find himself in the referee’s book again, especially if tasked with containing Charlton’s lively left side.
Head-to-head, it’s been a fairly even rivalry over the years: Charlton have 23 wins to Watford’s 20, with 23 draws. At The Valley, Charlton have won seven of 16 league meetings (44%), and their recent supremacy at home suggests they’ll be confident of adding to that tally.
With anticipation building, all eyes will be on The Valley as the Championship curtain rises. Will Charlton’s momentum and home advantage prove decisive, or can Watford’s new-look side spring a surprise? One thing’s for sure—this season opener promises drama, intensity, and a first glimpse at two teams with plenty to fight for.
As the teams prepare to walk out under the South London sun, the only certainty is that the Championship’s return brings fresh hope and a clean slate for both clubs. The action is set, the fans are ready, and by Saturday afternoon, we’ll have our first answers in what promises to be a fascinating campaign.