Cham vs Brühl - 1. Liga Promotion

All eyes turn to the home ground on September 19, 2026 as Cham welcome Brühl in a 1. Liga Promotion encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

A glance at the 1. Liga Promotion table tells the story: Cham in 5th and Brühl in 7th, with positions to defend and places to climb. The hosts have been steady if unspectacular, L in their last five reflecting a win rate of 57.14%. On their travels the visitors have been workmanlike, D in their last five and a win rate of 42.86% to show for it. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Cham average 1.57 per game to Brühl's 1.57, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. In his latest column, Paul Merson predicts the 2026/27 Premier League season at both ends of the table.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Cham favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Brühl are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. One of McInnes' decisions will likely be who starts up front in the absence of captain Lawrence Shankland and fellow striker Youssef Chermiti.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. All signs point towards a home win, with Cham favoured to come out on top by a 3-2 scoreline. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.