Preview: Norwich City vs Millwall - prediction, team news, lineups

Norwich City will kick off the new Championship season with a home clash against Millwall at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The Canaries finished last season in 13th spot, while the Lions fell just short of the playoffs with an eighth-placed finish.

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Match preview

Norwich endured a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, finishing in the bottom half of the table after winning 14, drawing 15 and losing 17 of their 46 matches. 

After dismissing Johannes Hoff Thorup in April, the Canaries appointed Liam Manning as their new boss, prising the Norwich-born coach from fellow Championship side Bristol City.

Manning knows how to reach the Championship playoffs after guiding the Robins to a fourth-placed finish last term, before their campaign was ended by a heavy defeat to Sheffield United in the semi-finals. 

The Norwich squad has undergone considerable changes ahead of Manning’s first season in charge, including the departures of Borja Sainz, Angus Gunn, Onel Hernandez and Jacob Sorensen. 

Norwich have been busy adding to their squad this summer, having recruited Mathias Kvistgaarden, Mirko Topic, Jacob Wright and Jakov Medic as four of their 11 new signings. 

The Canaries will enter the first game of the season on the back of an underwhelming set of pre-season results after winning two, drawing three and losing two of their seven friendlies.

Millwall fell two points short of the playoffs last term after winning 18, drawing 12 and losing 16 of their 46 Championship matches.

The Lions have finished in ninth place or above in three of the last four seasons, so they will be desperate to make that extra push for the playoffs this term.

However, achieving a top-six finish will be easier said than done for a club that have not participated in the second-tier playoffs since 2001-02.

Millwall have made a number of additions to Alex Neil's squad ahead of the new season, recruiting Steven Benda, Max Crocombe, Zak Sturge, Alfie Doughty, Massimo Luongo and Josh Coburn. 

The Lions will be pleased with their pre-season results, recording four victories in six matches (L2), including wins in each of their last four outings against AFC Wimbledon, Bromley, Sutton and Estoril.

They will hope to continue that winning run on Saturday, but their expectations may be tempered by the fact that they have not beaten Norwich in an away game since November 1968. 

Norwich City pre-season form:

D D L D L W 

Millwall pre-season form:

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Team News

The Canaries are unable to call upon the services of Kenny McLean and Lucien Mahovo, although the pair are making progress in their respective recoveries.

Jack Stacey, Harry Darling, Medic and Ben Chrisene could make up the backline for the opening day of the season.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Josh Sargent is likely to lead the line despite being heavily linked with a move away from Carrow Road before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

As for the visitors, they will head into matchday one without Lukas Jensen, Danny McNamara and Zak Lovelace. 

The Lions will also have to assess the fitness of defender Joe Bryan and forward Kevin Nisbet, who are working their way back from injury issues.

After joining for a club-record fee, Josh Coburn is set to make his competitive debut in a forward pairing with last season’s top scorer Mihailo Ivanovic.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Kovacevic; Stacey, Darling, Medic, Chrisene; Wright, Nunez; Crnac, Forson, Diallo; Sargent

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Benda; Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Doughty; Neghli, Mitchell, De Norre, Azeez; Ivanovic, Coburn

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We say: Norwich City 2-1 Millwall

Norwich have not lost at home to Millwall for 57 years, and after winning each of their previous three encounters with the Lions at Carrow Road, we think that the Canaries will make full use of home advantage to pick up a narrow victory on Saturday. 

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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