Middlesbrough v Birmingham City: top two collide
Middlesbrough meet Birmingham City at Riverside Stadium, Saturday 7:00am (EFL Championship). First plays second: the top two on the ladder go head to head.
The big picture
Middlesbrough come in 2nd on the ladder with 29 points; Birmingham City are 1st on 29. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.
Middlesbrough are 8–2–5 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 2 goals for and 1.3 against.
Birmingham City are 7–2–5 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 1.9 goals for and 0.9 against.
Form
Middlesbrough have won two of their last five and most recently drew with Watford 0–0.
Birmingham City have won four of their last five and most recently beat Millwall 3–0.
Head to head
These sides have met 109 times on our records since 1899: Middlesbrough 41, Birmingham City 38, 30 drawn.
Last time out (2026-27), it was a draw 2–2 at St. Andrew's Stadium.
Biggest margin between these two: Birmingham City by 7 goals in 1905-06 (7–0).
Players to watch
For Middlesbrough, watch Will Lankshear (1 goals a match in 2026-27) and Amario Cozier-Duberry (3 goals, 5 assists in 2026-27).
For Birmingham City, watch August Priske (6 goals, 1 assist in 2026-27) and Liam Millar (4 goals, 3 assists in 2026-27).
At Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough have won 10 of their last 19 at Riverside Stadium.
The deeper numbers
Birmingham City haven't beaten Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium since 2021-22: 3 meetings there since then.
What the numbers say
On form, ladder and history, Birmingham City have the edge.
Written automatically from Lineball's own match and player database. Not betting advice.
