Championship Playoff Final: Coventry VS Luton
Coventry City and Luton Town meet on the 27th of May at Wembley in the biggest football game of the season. Coventry City finished 5th in the Championship with 70 points and they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate to make it to Wembley. Luton Town ended up third in the league with 80 points and they beat Sunderland 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the Final. In their previous 10 meetings, Coventry have won just once whilst Luton have won 4 times. That win for Coventry came back in League 2 (in 2017). In terms of league history, Coventry have been in the Championship for three seasons now and they are looking to make it back to the Premier League for the first time since the 2000/01 season. Luton, on the other hand, have been in the second tier of English football for four seasons and they are looking to make it back to the top flight for the first time since 1992 (the final season before the Premier League began). For Coventry City, 90 minutes is all that stands in their way of returning to the “big leagues”. The Sky Blues are on a 9-game unbeaten run (4W,5D) and they finished the league season with the 4th-best defensive record. As for Luton Town, a win at Wembley would cap off what has been an incredible journey up the football pyramid in the last 10 years. The Hatters ended the league season with the joint-second-best defensive record in the league and they’ve only lost once in their last 16 games.
My Prediction: 1-0
League 2 Playoff Final: Carlisle VS Stockport County
On the 28th of May, Carlisle United and Stockport County collide for a place in League One next season. Carlisle United finished 5th in League 2 with 76 points and they beat Bradford City 3-2 on aggregate to make it to Wembley. Stockport County ended up 4th in the league with 79 points and they beat Salford on penalties to advance to the Final. In their previous 2 meetings (both from earlier in the season), Stockport won one and the other game ended in a draw. You have to go back to 2009 for the last time Carlisle beat Stockport (that was in League 1). In terms of league history, Carlisle have been in League 2 for 9 seasons now and they are looking to make it back to League 1 for the first time since the 2013/14 season. Stockport, on the other hand, are in their first season back in the fourth tier of English football and they are looking to return to the third tier of English football for the first time since 2010. For Carlisle United, it almost feels like they have to win this game which is mental given how much they’ve overperformed this year. The Blues were the third-highest-scoring team in League 2 this season and they also had the joint-5th-best defensive record. As for Stockport County, they are looking to make it back-to-back promotions. The Hatters have lost just one of their last 15 games and only league winners Leyton Orient conceded more goals than them in the division this season.
My Prediction: 1-2
League 1 Playoff Final: Barnsley VS Sheffield Wednesday
The third bank holiday of the year in May sees Barnsley battle Sheffield Wednesday in the League 1 Playoff Final. Barnsley finished 4th in League 1 with 86 points and they beat Bolton 2-1 on aggregate to make it to Wembley. Sheffield Wednesday ended up third with 96 points and they ridiculously beat Peterborough on penalties to advance to the Final. In their previous 16 meetings, Barnsley have won 4 times whilst Sheffield Wednesday have won 6 times. In terms of league history, Barnsley have only been back in League 1 for one season and they are looking to return straight back to the Championship. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, have been in the third tier of English football for two seasons and they are looking to make it back to the second tier of English football for the first time since 2021. For Barnsley, they’ll be mightily disappointed if they aren’t able to go straight back up to the Championship. The Tykes ended the league season with the 4th best attack and they also had the 6th best defense in the league as well. As for Sheffield Wednesday, they really don’t want to spend another year in the third tier. The Owls were the third-highest scorers in the league this season and they also had the third-best defensive record.
My Prediction: 2-3
UEFA Europa League Final: Sevilla VS Roma
Sevilla meet Roma on May 31st in a really exciting UEFA Europa League Final. Sevilla are currently 9th in LaLiga, can finish anywhere between 7th and 12th and they’ve beaten PSV, Fenerbache, Manchester United and Juventus on their way to the Final. A.S. Roma are currently 6th in Serie A, can finish anywhere between 3rd and 7th and they’ve beaten RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen to make it to Budapest. Sevilla won their most recent competitive meeting back in 2020 2-0. In terms of success in this competition, nobody has won more Europa League titles than Sevilla (6) and they’ve never not won the competition once they’ve made the Quarter-Final stage. Roma, on the other hand, won their only ever major European trophy last year (UEFA Europa Conference League) so they are looking to make it back-to-back European titles. Overall, Sevilla are looking to keep up their incredible Europa League record whilst Roma boss Jose Mourinho is looking to go 6 for 6 in major European finals.
My Prediction: 1-0
FA Cup Final: Manchester City VS Manchester United
A special Manchester Derby will take place on June 3rd as City and United battle for the FA Cup Trophy. Manchester City have already secured themselves as Premier League Champions and they’ve beaten Chelsea, Arsenal, Bristol City, Burnley and Sheffield United on their way to the Final. Manchester United know just a point will secure their place in the Champions League next season and they’ve beaten Everton, Reading, West Ham, Fulham and Brighton to make it back to Wembley. In their previous 34 meetings, Man City have won 16 times whilst Man United have won 14 times. In terms of success in this competition, City have won the FA Cup 6 times (last time in 2019) whilst United have lifted the famous trophy 12 times (last time in 2016). Overall, Manchester City are looking to seal the second of hopefully 3 trophies for them this season whilst Manchester United are looking to complete a very impressive domestic cup double.
My Prediction: 2-1
UEFA Europa Conference League Final: Fiorentina VS West Ham
Fiorentina and West Ham United battle on June 7th for the right to be called the second-ever UEFA Europa Conference League Champions. Fiorentina are currently 11th in Serie A, can finish anywhere between 8th and 13th and they’ve beaten Braga, Sivasspor, Lech Poznan and FC Basel on their way to the Final. West Ham United are currently 14th in the Premier League, can finish anywhere between 12th and 16th and they’ve beaten AEK Larnaca, KAA Gent and AZ Alkmaar to make it to Prague. Fiorentina have beaten West Ham in both of their competitive matches against each other (both in 1975). When it comes to success in Europe, Fiorentina have only ever won the Cup Winners’ Cup (1960/61) whilst West Ham United won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. Overall, Fiorentina are looking for their first European trophy in over 60 years (which would also get them into Europe for next season) whilst West Ham are looking to cap off what has been an incredible European journey.
My Prediction: 2-0
UEFA Champions League Final: Manchester City VS Inter Milan
The 2022/23 Football season comes to an end on June 10th (in Europe) as Manchester City and Inter Milan meet in Istanbul for the UEFA Champions League Final. Manchester City have already secured one trophy this season (Premier League) and they’ve beaten RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid on their way to the Final. Inter Milan are currently 3rd in Serie A, can finish anywhere between 2nd and 6th and they’ve beaten Porto, Benfica and A.C. Milan to make it to Istanbul. Crazily enough, these two sides have never faced each other in a competitive meeting before! When it comes to success in this competition, City have never won the Champions League (they won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970) whilst Inter Milan have been Champions of Europe 3 times (1964, 1965, 2010). Overall, Manchester City are hoping to finally get their hands on the trophy that they’ve been aiming for for years whilst Inter Milan are looking to finish off what has been an incredible European run.
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