Sheffield United vs Bristol City Prediction: Struber’s new boys can blunt Blades

Sheffield United and Bristol City kick off the 2025/26 season with a Championship play-off semi-final rematch at Bramall Lane on Saturday (17.30 BST, Sky Sports Football).United were the victors in the play-offs, hammering City 3-0 home and away, to set up a Wembley showdown with Sunderland which the Blades agonisingly lost.

Below are my Sheffield United vs Bristol City predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

United are short of recognised centre-backs so new boss Ruben Selles hopes Jack Robinson is fit. Tom Davies, Jamie Shackleton and Oli Arblaster are out which might mean Gus Hamer dropping deeper in midfield.

New City coach Gerhard Struber is likely to hand a debut up front to new signing Emil Riis from Preston. Rob Dickie, City's centre-back, is suspended which should mean a return for Rob Atkinson. Luke McNally, Cam Pring, Max Bird and Joe Williams are all missing.

Sheffield United vs Bristol City Odds

United were solid at home last term, losing just four times, so go off an 8/11 chance. City were also solid away, accruing 10 draws, although they didn't win many, just four in total, so they have been chalked up at 4/1.

There have been plenty of goals in both clubs' pre-season matches so 10/11 over 2.5 goals might catch the eye.

Draw or Bristol City Double Chance & Both Teams to Score @ 5/2

This is the first weekend of the new season and while it's easy to assume United are the big dogs and City are the whipping boys, that might be just a tad too convenient.

Both clubs, top-six outfits just last term, are under new management and it's just possible that Bristol City are slightly ahead in terms of where they want to be under Gerhard Struber than United are under Ruben Selles.

United have lost some big-name players this summer - the likes of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Kieffer Moore and Vinicius Souza - and none has been obviously replaced.

City, meanwhile, managed to hold on to key men like Jason Knight and now expect big things from Struber, whose attack-minded, imaginative, high-pressing methods earned them a massively impressive 4-0 win over Real Valladolid in their final friendly.

Emil Riis, with three goals in two friendlies, is the frontman United crave, and this is a game which promises goals.

It is also a game in which City are a spot of value to avoid defeat.

Away Team Total Corners Over 4.5 @ 11/10

City were a side who liked to get forward under Liam Manning last season and were the joint fourth highest shot-takers in the division, behind only Leeds, Middlesbrough and Coventry.

Under Struber the mindset is much the same with an emphasis on wing-backs Ross McCrorie and Yu Hirakawa to offer as much width as possible.

Unsurprisingly they won their share of corners last term, averaging 5.4 per game, while they also won four on each of their two trips to Bramall Lane.

Against a Blades' outfit who are still in something of a transition, take City to get over 4.5 this weekend.

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