Derby - Cardiff

Derby County and Cardiff City meet at Pride Park on 22 August 2026 for their second matchday of the Championship season. The hosts enter the contest looking to recover from a difficult start, having suffered a 2-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic in their opening league fixture. Derby County will rely on the expected XI featuring Carlton Morris and Sammie Szmodics to provide a sharper attacking edge, though the absence of Matthew Clarke due to injury will force a reshuffle in their defensive structure. Jacob Widell Zetterstroem remains central to their plans in goal as they aim to stabilize their backline.

Cardiff City arrive following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Wrexham, showing resilience in their opening league outing. With Yousef Salech and Chris Willock expected to lead the line, the visitors will look to exploit any gaps left by the Derby defence. Their recent head-to-head history is closely contested, highlighted by a 1-0 win for Derby County on 14 September 2024, though Cardiff City have often proven difficult to break down in this fixture. Both sides are eager to secure their first league victory of the campaign in what promises to be a pivotal early test.