The Opposition: Cardiff City

The opening game of 2025 from the Riverside sees Cardiff City make the journey from South Wales.

Here is a closer look at the Bluebirds.

The background

After being demoted from the Premier League in 2019, Cardiff become a Sky Bet Championship team.

The Bluebirds have had greater difficulty since making it to the playoffs in 2019–20, finishing eighth, 18th, and 21st before finishing 12th last season.

They began this season with a seven-game losing streak before becoming better, and they are attempting to avoid relegation as they bid for 2025.

Cardiff is now in 23rd place with 22 points, but they showed their mettle in a recent 2-1 victory over play-off contender Watford.

The boss

Omer Riza was part of Cardiff’s coaching staff before initially being named interim manager following the departure of Erol Bulut in late-September. He was appointed permanently in early December.

His playing days took him from Arsenal to 15 other clubs before he began his coaching career, first managing Cheshunt before spells on the staff of clubs including Leyton Orient, Watford and England’s Under-17s.

Riza’s contract as Cardiff manager lasts until the end of this season.

Key players

One of Cardiff’s favourite sons, Aaron Ramsey, is also their most decorated player. Despite his limited playing time this season due to injury, the former midfielder for Juventus and Arsenal offers exceptional skill from the middle of the pitch when available, and his experience is priceless.

Calum Chambers, Ramsey’s old teammate from Arsenal, arrived at Cardiff City Stadium in the summer of 2024 and is a mainstay at the back.

Former Reading player Yakou Meite adds energy on the flank, and Callum O’Dowda, an Ireland international, is a threat in forward areas.

Among the team’s other greatest assets are former Celtic midfielder David Turnbull and two-time Cardiff Player of the Year Perry Ng.

Past meetings

In August, Boro won 2-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium in the rematch. Matt Clarke opened the scoring before Ramsey’s own goal clinched the victory.

Both Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath scored goals in Boro’s 2-0 victory at the Riverside last season.

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