Huddersfield vs. Burnley: Preview and betting tips

The new season of England’s second highest league kicks off on Friday. Burnley and Huddersfield will play in the first round of the Championship. What to expect from the match between the two promotion hopefuls and what to bet on?

Huddersfield recovered from a poor start last year, gradually climbed up the table and eventually finished in the Top 6 guaranteeing a play-off for the Premier League. They made it through to the final via Luton, in which they lost to Nottingham by an own goal.

Burnley were a different story. From the beginning of the season they were fighting for salvation and even though they still had a chance to stay in the last round, they didn’t win against Newcastle and left the elite. Leeds stayed in the league at his expense.

On the home side, it was Danny Ward who was firing last year, the experienced thirty-one year old striker netted fourteen goals. American winger Duane Holmes made six saves and assisted on four more goals.

Maxwel Cornet was sharp-shooting for the away side, scoring nine goals and assisting once in the Premier League last season. Stopper Kevin Long, right back Connor Roberts and winger Dwight McNeill should also be mainstays after relegation.

Huddersfield, however, have not fared well up front in preparation, scoring more than once in only two of their five preliminary games, while playing against teams from the lower English leagues.

Burnley, on the other hand, can be satisfied with their preparation, winning two out of three games, falling short only to top-flight Wolverhampton.

Considering the strong backbone of the away team, which stayed almost together after relegation to the Championship, I think Burnley will win the opener.