Match

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff: prediction and stats

ChampionshipRegular Season - 11Kick-off on October 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM (UTC)Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

MiddlesbroughCardiff

The Footlab AI model makes Middlesbrough the favourite at 50%, against 26% for a draw and 24% for Cardiff. The most likely score is 1-1. If Middlesbrough wins, the most likely score is 1-0.

Footlab AI's cards found the right outcome in 54.6% of the 2,356 matches already evaluated, against 33.3% for random guessing. See the measured accuracy

Probabilities recomputed on Oct 13, 2026. The full match card is recomputed continuously until kick-off.

Who will win Middlesbrough vs Cardiff?

On Elo ratings, Middlesbrough has 2,044 points and Cardiff 2,013.

50%26%24%
Middlesbrough winDrawCardiff win

Computed by the Footlab AI model from our own data only, with no AI analysis.

See the probabilities after AI analysisThe AI adds press reports and last-minute absences, in the Footlab AI app. Sign-in required.

Probable lineup for Middlesbrough vs Cardiff

Computed by Footlab AI from our own data only: recent lineups, squads and known absences. It does not take the press or last-minute absences into account.

Middlesbrough

4-2-3-1
  1. 7W. Lankshear
  1. 10A. Morris
  2. 8R. McGree
  3. 11A. Cozier-Duberry
  4. 6S. Berhalter
  5. 9T. Conway
  1. 2C. Brittain
  2. 29A. Malanda
  3. 4A. Phillips
  4. 30Neto Borges
  1. 1R. Vítek

Cardiff

4-2-3-1
  1. 9Y. Salech
  1. 18A. Robertson
  2. 11O. Tanner
  3. 8J. Moylan
  4. 27J. Colwill
  5. 45Cian Ashford
  1. 38P. Ng
  2. 3J. Bagan
  3. 4G. Osho
  4. 5K. Bielik
  1. 1N. Trott

Computed on October 13, 2026 at 04:48 PM (UTC).

See the lineup updated by the AIPress reports and last-minute absences, in the Footlab AI app. Sign-in required.

What is the recent form of both teams?

Over their last 15 matches in all competitions, Middlesbrough have 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats; Cardiff have 5, 4 and 6.

The competition is shown for every match: in pre-season, several of these games are friendlies.

Middlesbrough
DateOpponentScoreCompetition
Oct 10, 2026Wolves(home)1-0Championship
Sep 19, 2026Birmingham(away)2-2Championship
Sep 15, 2026Millwall(home)2-2Championship
Sep 12, 2026Norwich(home)4-3Championship
Sep 8, 2026Crystal Palace(away)0-3League Cup
Cardiff
DateOpponentScoreCompetition
Oct 10, 2026Blackburn(away)1-2Championship
Sep 19, 2026Charlton(home)3-1Championship
Sep 12, 2026Bolton(away)0-1Championship
Sep 8, 2026Stoke City(home)1-1Championship
Sep 5, 2026Portsmouth(away)0-2Championship

What does the head-to-head say?

Across the last 6 meetings: 4 Middlesbrough wins, 1 draw, 1 Cardiff win.

DateScoreCompetition
Jan 4, 2025Middlesbrough 1-1 CardiffChampionship
Aug 31, 2024Cardiff 0-2 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Apr 27, 2024Cardiff 1-4 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Oct 3, 2023Middlesbrough 2-0 CardiffChampionship
Feb 11, 2023Cardiff 1-3 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Sep 13, 2022Middlesbrough 2-3 CardiffChampionship

Last archived meeting: Middlesbrough vs Cardiff on Jan 4, 2025

How many goals should we expect?

Middlesbrough score 1.7 and concede 1.4 goals per match over their last 15; Cardiff score 2.0 and concede 1.8. The model gives a 52% probability of over 2.5 goals and 54% for both teams to score.

ClubGoals scored / matchGoals conceded / matchClean sheetsBoth teams scoredOver 2.5 goals
Middlesbrough1.71.4310/159/15
Cardiff2.01.8012/1511/15

Over the last 15 matches in all competitions.

Where do both teams sit in the table?

Middlesbrough sit 2nd in Championship (18 points from 9 matches) and Cardiff sit 21st (7 points from 9 matches).

2026-27 standings
#ClubPWDLGFGAPts
2Middlesbrough9531171218
21Cardiff914411147

A question about Middlesbrough vs Cardiff?

Ask Footlab AI: lineups, absences, player form, stats, how the match could unfold.

Sign-in required. No odds displayed, no affiliation: the method is published and the accuracy is measured.

How does Footlab AI compute this prediction?

The model combines both teams' Elo ratings (anchored by competition pool), their recent form weighted by opponent strength, home advantage and a Poisson matrix for scorelines. When bookmakers publish odds for the match, their consensus is built into the calculation: that is what proved most accurate on past matches. Its accuracy is measured continuously on the predictions actually published. Methodology and measured accuracy

Frequently asked questions

Who is the favourite for Middlesbrough vs Cardiff?
The Footlab AI model makes Middlesbrough the favourite at 50%, against 26% for a draw and 24% for Cardiff.
Where and when is Middlesbrough vs Cardiff played?
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff is played on October 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM (UTC) at Riverside Stadium, in the Championship.
Will there be over 2.5 goals?
The Footlab AI model gives a 52% probability of at least three goals in this match.
How reliable is this prediction?
Footlab AI's cards found the right outcome (home win, draw or away win) in 54.6% of the matches already evaluated, against 33.3% for random guessing, a level comparable with the bookmakers' favourite. The comparison with bookmakers and the breakdown by competition and Elo gap are published on the accuracy page.

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Next match: Middlesbrough and Cardiff

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