Stoke City vs Preston North End - Championship Match

Stoke City vs Preston North End Preview: Championship Clash

Stoke City will host Preston North End at Bet365 Stadium on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 18:00 UTC in what promises to be an exciting Championship encounter. Both sides will be looking to secure all three points as they continue their campaign this season.

Current Form & Recent Results

Stoke City recent form shows 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses from their last 5 games.

Preston North End have been difficult to beat recently, remaining undefeated in 4 of their last 5 matches despite only winning 2.

Head-to-Head Record

Preston North End have enjoyed success in this fixture historically, winning 8 of the last 21 encounters compared to Stoke City's 5 wins. With 8 draws between them, the visitors will be confident of continuing their positive record.

Expected Tactics & Formations

Stoke City are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Preston North End will likely deploy a 3-5-2 system. The tactical battle between these two setups could prove decisive in determining the outcome.

Match Officials

A. Fox will be the referee for this fixture.

Match Prediction & Analysis

This promises to be a tightly contested affair with little separating these two sides on paper. Both teams will fancy their chances of victory, and the match could go either way. Expect an entertaining encounter with plenty of action and possibly goals at both ends.

Key Facts

• Kick-off: Friday, December 26, 2025, 18:00 UTC
• Venue: Bet365 Stadium
• Competition: Championship
• Stoke City Position: 8th (40 pts)
• Preston North End Position: 4th (43 pts)
• H2H Record (Last 21): Stoke City 5W - 8D - 8W Preston North End
• Referee: A. Fox