Championship opener at the Valley pits Addicks against Rams

Charlton Athletic and Derby County will kick off their Championship campaigns at The Valley on Saturday at 15:00 BST, with the Addicks coming off an EFL Cup win at Cheltenham and the Rams having exited the Cup at home to Lincoln.

Charlton have been unbeaten on opening day for seven seasons, winning five of those matches, most recently a 1-0 home victory over Watford last year.

Derby County’s recent challenges

The Rams were eliminated from the EFL Cup by Lincoln on home soil and have seen a proposed takeover collapse in recent days. Their 3-1 defeat at Stoke last season marked a third straight opening‑day loss.

Historically, Charlton have lost their last two home league games to Derby, a streak only surpassed by a five‑match run between December 1946 and May 1951.

Season form and statistics

Derby have lost just one of their previous five league meetings with Charlton Athletic, recording three wins and one draw, the most recent being a 2-1 loss in February 2024.

Charlton dropped five of their final eight league games last season, managing one win and two draws, while only Sheffield Wednesday (12.7%) spent a lower proportion of games in a winning position than the Addicks (16.5%) in the Championship.

Derby lost six of their final eight away fixtures last season, though they secured a 3-2 victory at QPR in April.

Carlton Morris scored 12 league goals for Derby last season, his second‑best tally in the top four tiers after 20 for Luton Town in 2022‑23; five of his 2025‑26 goals came from corners, more than any other player.

The Valley will host the encounter, offering both clubs a chance to improve on their previous season’s league positions.

The contrasting statistics set a narrative for the opening clash, with the Addicks aiming to extend their opening‑day unbeaten record and the Rams seeking to rebound from recent cup disappointment.