Both Sheffield United and Birmingham City had to settle for a mid-table finish in last season's edition of the Championship, but both will be targeting promotion in the 2026/27 campaign.
Pre-season has gone well for both clubs, with each remaining unbeaten in their friendly matches and progressing through to the last 32 of the League Cup. The Blades defeated League One side Mansfield Town 3-0, while Birmingham edged past fellow Championship side Swansea City 1-0.
Sheff Utd and Birmingham locked horns three times last season. The Blues drew first blood as they knocked Sheffield United out of the League Cup in August, but the Blades had their revenge at Bramall Lane in the league, with a convincing 3-0 victory.
The pair met at St Andrew's in March, where they played out a 1-1 draw, and we've backed another stalemate between these two evenly matched sides on the opening day of the new season.
Five of the last six head-to-heads between these two clubs have ended with both teams scoring, while four of both clubs' last five league games last season also ended with both teams finding the back of the net.
Taking all of the above into account, we're backing Saturday's late kick-off to end all square with both teams scoring in what should be a close and competitive 90 minutes in the Steel City.
Sheffield United 1-1 Birmingham
