Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams that just missed out on the Championship playoffs last season will lock horns on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 campaign, as West Bromwich Albion welcome Blackburn Rovers to the Hawthorns.

West Brom finished ninth in the Championship last term, four points behind sixth-placed Bristol City, while Blackburn were seventh, two points off the playoffs, and both sides will again be looking to push for the top six this term.

Match preview

West Brom had a record of 15 wins, 19 draws and 12 defeats from their 46 Championship matches last season, and a lack of victories ultimately cost them a spot in the top six and a possible return to the Premier League.

The Baggies have been absent from the top flight since 2020-21, so this will be their fifth straight season in the Championship, finishing 10th, ninth, fifth and ninth in their last four.

West Brom will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, so their pre-season ended on a positive note after successive defeats to Blackpool and Lincoln City.

Ryan Mason's side have only made three signings this summer, bringing in Aune Heggebo, Nat Phillips and George Campbell, while four players have departed on free transfers, so it is largely the same squad from last season.

West Brom suffered a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn in the corresponding game between the two sides last season, so the Baggies will have revenge on their minds on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

Blackburn have actually only lost one of their last seven Championship matches against West Brom, recording three wins during that timeframe, so Rovers will be confident ahead of the clash at the Hawthorns.

Valerien Ismael's side finished seventh in the Championship last season, two points behind sixth-placed Bristol City, boasting a record of 19 wins, nine draws and 18 defeats from their 46 matches to collect 66 points.

Rovers have made six signings during this summer's transfer window, including Sidnei Tavares, while Lewis Miller and Axel Henriksson have also made the move to the club during the current market.

Joe Rankin-Costello has been their biggest exit, moving to Charlton Athletic, but Andreas Weimann and Danny Batth are also among those to have moved on since the end of last season.

Blackburn last played in the Premier League during the 2011-12 campaign, so it would be some achievement by Ismael if he could lead the club back into England's top flight for 2026-27.

West Bromwich Albion pre-season form:

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Blackburn Rovers pre-season form:

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Team News

West Brom will be without the services of Daryl Dike through injury, while Josh Maja is also expected to miss out, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape ahead of this match.

There are expected to be two debutants on Saturday, with 23-year-old Heggebo in line to feature at the top end of the pitch, while former Liverpool defender Phillips will operate at the back.

Alex Mowatt was a standout performer for West Brom during the 2024-25 campaign, and the 29-year-old will be among the starters for the home side in this contest.

As for Blackburn, Adam Forshaw, Hayden Carter, Aynsley Pears and Tavares are out through injury.

Miller is set to make his debut for the club following his arrival from Hibernian, while there is also likely to be a spot in the middle of the defence for fellow new arrival Sean McLoughlin.

Makhtar Gueye scored eight times for Rovers during the 2024-25 campaign, and there is expected to be a spot in the final third of the field for the 26-year-old this weekend.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Diakite, Price; Fellows, Mowatt, Grant; Heggebo

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Toth; Miller, McLoughlin, Nyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis; Kargbo, Cantwell, Neve; Gueye

We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

This is a tough match to call, and it would not be a surprise to see a draw or an away victory this weekend, but we just have a feeling that home advantage will allow West Brom to pick up all three points in their season opener.

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