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Cardiff City logo
Championship | Gameweek 1
Jul 30, 2022 at 3pm UK
Cardiff City Stadium
Norwich logo

Cardiff
1 - 0
Norwich

Sawyers (49')
Kipre (44'), O'Dowda (54'), Ralls (69'), Ng (69'), Rinomhota (69')
Ng (73')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Hanley (68')
Hanley (85')

Preview: Cardiff City vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Cardiff City and Norwich City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Norwich City begin life back in the Championship with the long trip to face Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

While the Canaries start the campaign as one of the favourites to gain promotion, Cardiff are attempting to enjoy a season further up the table after a poor 2021-22.


Match preview

Norwich City manager Dean Smith on March 13, 2022© Reuters

Although Dean Smith arrived at Carrow Road hoping to keep Norwich in the Premier League, he would have acknowledged that a return to the Championship was a realistic possibility.

That is how it turned out, Smith winning just six of his 30 games in charge since November 15, but that should not mean that there is any reason for pessimism in East Anglia.

The majority of last season's squad are still at the club, the group being complemented by the return of loanees and additions of Isaac Hayden and Gabriel Sara.

More changes - both incoming and out - are expected during the final five weeks of the transfer window, but everything is in place to launch a bid for a third Championship title in five years.

While Norwich posted a notable win over Marseille earlier this month, they ended pre-season with defeats to Celtic and Hibernian in the space of 24 hours.

Cardiff City manager Steve Morison reacts on February 6, 2022© Reuters

After his initial promising start as caretaker boss, Steve Morison was soon handed the reins at Cardiff on a permanent basis, successfully keeping the Bluebirds in the Championship with an 18th-placed finish.

However, Morison's remit has now changed with the expectation now being a mid-table finish or better, a consequence of being able to make sweeping changes to his squad.

As many as 12 fresh faces will be hoping to challenge for a regular first-team spot this season, and hopes are high that the Welsh outfit will be able to deliver over the course of the season.

Although their pre-season schedule was spent playing teams from League One and League Two, collecting four wins and one draw from five outings can only be regarded as a confidence-booster ahead of playing host to the title favourites.

Cardiff City pre-season form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Norwich City pre-season form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L


Team News

Stoke City's Jaden Philogene-Bidace celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 8, 2022© Reuters

Morison may be prepared to stick with the Cardiff XI which started the 4-2 victory away at Swindon Town last time out.

That would result in as many as seven debuts being handed out, but Jaden Philogene-Bidace will likely be named among the replacements after his arrival on loan from Aston Villa.

Having spoken highly of his team's performance at Celtic last week, Smith may select the same 11 players which started in Glasgow.

However, Hayden remains out of contention with a knee injury sustained during the early days of pre-season.

Despite enjoying a strong summer back at the Canaries, forward Jordan Hugill is unlikely to start against one of his former clubs.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Romeo, Ng, Kipre, Collins, Wintle, Rinomhota, Sawyers; Ojo, Watters, O'Dowda

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, McCallum; McLean, Cantwell; Sinani, Rashica, Sargent; Pukki


SM words green background

We say: Cardiff City 1-2 Norwich City

Backed by their home crowd, Cardiff will fancy their chances of causing one of the surprises of the opening Championship weekend. However, this feels like a strong Norwich squad for a second-tier campaign and we feel that the visitors will edge this contest by the odd goal in three.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Cardiff vs Norwich

Cardiff City
21.2%
Draw
12.4%
Norwich City
66.4%
113
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Norwich City manager Dean Smith applauds fans after the match on May 22, 2022
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