Charlton vs QPR - Championship

A fascinating Championship chapter awaits on September 9, 2026 when Charlton take on QPR at The Valley — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Manchester United play in Gothenburg on Saturday as they take on Paris-Saint Germain in their fourth pre-season fixture.

Both Charlton and QPR will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Championship. Patchy would be the kindest description of Charlton's recent run: LDDLD in their last five, a season win rate of 36.96%. QPR have travelled reasonably well, DDDLW over their last five with a season win rate of 50%. Where Charlton have leaned on defensive discipline, QPR have often taken the initiative going forward, and that stylistic difference should shape the contest. Arsenal also saw the importance of having good depth at right-back when Mosquera was forced to start the Champions League final with PSG out of position - which then resulted in the young Spaniard conceding a penalty.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Charlton will look to impose their style on home soil, while QPR are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Amad won possession in the PSG half before laying the ball off for Bryan Mbeumo to score.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman C. Larin — 7 goals this term — will be one to watch. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Monaco are holding out for a fee of €50 million for the physically imposing midfielder.Camara has shown his quality in France, and he has the ability to succeed in English football as well.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Championship standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.