The Championship is one of the most relentless leagues in Europe, given the impressive depth to the promotion and relegation battles. With 72 games coming in just 22 days in the Festive period, there’s some huge head to head battles to come.
Christmas tends to be a feast of live matches for football fans and it’s no different in this year’s Championship offering. With Sky broadcasting 35 live games from the second tier, we’ve put together this guide to every match kicking off in front of the Sky cameras.
Where to Watch Live Championship Football
Fans of top-level football know how hard it is to keep track of TV games these days. After all, the big 5 European leagues are spread across four subscription services.
However, the Championship is quite straightforward. Featured games are on the main Sky Sports channels, while additional games can be found via the red button or Sky Sports app. Every round of games is followed up by a highlights show on Quest.
Our Live Football Schedule has all the latest football TV listings this Christmas.
Latest Championship Tips
It’s a busy month in the Championship, but we have everything covered so that you don’t miss a thing. For a game by game predictions across the second tier this Festive season, our Championship match predictions have everything you need.
FST Football Predictions
Christmas is a busy time for many leagues – not just the Championship. With slew of games coming your way over the Festive period, we have them covered. FST is your go-to for the latest TV coverage information, match analysis and free football tips.
Just check out our match predictions section for our daily football tips.
10th & 11th December Live Championship Games
Preston North End vs Fulham (Tuesday 10th, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
5 Other Tuesday Games – Sky Sports Red Button
Birmingham vs QPR (Wednesday 11th, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Derby vs Sheffield Wednesday (Wednesday 11th, 7:45pm) Sky Sports Action
4 Other Wednesday Games – Sky Sports Red Button
Highlights of the Round
This midweek round of games sees all 12 matches being broadcast on TV. Fans of every Championship side can watch their team in action across Tuesday or Wednesday. The main featured games don’t even feature the top two, with Leeds hosting Hull on Tuesday and West Brom heading to Wigan on Wednesday.
The pick of the round could well come at Ashton Gate, where in-form Millwall visit Bristol City. Tuesday is a great night of action around the league, with Stoke hosting Luton in a huge relegation six-pointer.
13th & 14th December Live Championship Games
Charlton vs Hull (Friday, 13th, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Football
Birmingham vs West Brom (Saturday 14th, 12:30 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Highlights of the Round
There’s only one rest day before the Championship returns to action at the Valley on Friday night. That’s followed up by an all-Midlands clash at St Andrew’s on Saturday afternoon. However, our pick of this weekend comes at Elland Road, as an improving Cardiff side pay a visit to Marcelo Bielsa’s title contenders.
20th – 23rd December Live Championship Games
Middlesbrough vs Stoke (Friday 20th, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Football
Cardiff vs Preston North End (Saturday 21st, 12:30 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City (Sunday 22nd, 12 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Blackburn vs Wigan (Monday 23rd, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Highlights of the Round
The last weekend before Christmas has plenty of gifts for football fans. The round contains four live games, spread across a four-day weekend. The eight teams have all been involved in either the playoff chase or survival fight this season, so there’s a lot on the line for each team.
However, this is a bumper weekend of matches from the second-tier. The Saturday 3pm games contain some huge matches as well, with Fulham hosting Leeds, a London derby between QPR and Charlton and Brentford travelling to leaders West Brom.
Boxing Day Live Championship Games
Brentford vs Swansea (3pm) Sky Sports Main Event
All other 3pm games – Sky Sports Red Button
Leeds United vs Preston North End (5:15 pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Reading vs QPR (7:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event
Highlights of the Round
While Amazon are hosting all of the Premier League action on Boxing Day, Sky Sports are going all-in with their Championship coverage. All 12 matches from this round of games are live on Thursday, kicking off with Brentford’s meeting with Swansea at 3pm.
At the same time, Millwall legend Neil Harris – sacked by them in October – faces off with his former side as the Lions head to Cardiff. There’s a double helping of Championship action to along with your Turkey leftovers that evening, with Leeds hosting Preston and QPR making the trip to Reading.
29th & 30th December Live Championship Games
Derby vs Charlton (Monday 30th, 7:45pm) Sky Sports Football
Highlights of the Round
There’s a weekend round packed in between the Boxing Day and New Years action, with only one live game. There are no big showdowns in Sunday’s games, with 11 3pm kick-offs. That’s followed up by Monday’s live clash from Pride Park. Last season’s beaten Championship playoff finalists meet the League One winners, days shy of Wayne Rooney’s first game for the Rams.
1st & 2nd January Live Championship Games
West Brom vs Leeds (Wednesday 1st, 5:15 pm) Sky Sports Football
Derby vs Barnsley (Thursday 2nd, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Football
Swansea vs Charlton (Thursday 2nd, 7:45 pm) Sky Sports Red Button
Highlights of the Round
The first Championship action of the New Year comes at The Den, which sees Millwall aiming for three points against struggling Luton. There are eight 3 pm games that day, including Bristol City clashing with Brentford in the playoff race.
However, the highlight of the day’s action comes at the Hawthorns, as the current top two go head to head. Both West Brom and Leeds are flying towards promotion, with Marcelo Bielsa’s men winning the clash at Elland Road. The rematch is sure to be huge in the promotion fight, while it’s the pick of the Festive action.
There are two more live games on Thursday, including Rooney’s likely debut for Derby. The former England captain signed in August, but he’s had to wait until January to complete the move. His first start at Pride Park comes against bottom of the table Barnsley under the Sky cameras on Thursday night.
Which Club Has the Most TV Games This Christmas?
Thanks to the two full rounds of matches, each side features at least twice this month. The 22 days sees 22 sides playing on the main Sky channels, while 18 pf the 24 sides play at least three times. It should be a good Christmas for Charlton fans, as the Addicks are live on TV in five of the next six rounds. They’re followed by Derby and West Brom, who have four live games this month.
The post FST’s Guide to the Championship Christmas 2019 Schedule appeared first on Free Football Tips.