West Bromwich Albion's 2024/25 campaign begins with a trip to the capital city and a clash with QPR on Saturday lunchtime (ko 12.30pm).
The Baggies, beaten play-off semi-finalists last term, will be hoping for a strong start down in London against a Rangers outfit who ended the previous season in 18th position and six points clear of relegation.
Albion's last win on an opening day was five years ago at Nottingham Forest (2-1). QPR's last league win on the first day of a new campaign also came against Forest - a 2-0 triumph in 2020.
Follow the action LIVE
UK supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's season opener against QPR.
Audio passes are available to purchase here.
Overseas supporters can both watch and listen to live coverage of the clash at MATRADE Loftus Road.
Video passes are available to purchase here.
Details for video streaming on WBA TV are available here.
Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary, with coverage starting at 12.20pm.
Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.
The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.
Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.
The hosts
QPR's second half of the 2023/24 campaign was extremely strong and they managed to drag themselves away from danger and secure their Sky Bet Championship status.
They only lost six league games from the start of 2024 until the end of the term, winning 10, and they'll be determined to pick up from where they left off at the start of the summer.
Marti Cifuentes is the man in charge and has been since October 2023. The 42-year-old Spaniard transformed the club from relegation candidates to one of the best-performing sides following his arrival. He has a record of 13 victories, nine draws and 11 defeats from his 33 matches at the helm.
They've added a host of fresh faces to their squad for the upcoming season, including Slovenia international forward Žan Celar, midfielder Jonathan Varane from Sporting Gijon, defenders Liam Morrison from Bayern Munich and Hevertton Santos on a free transfer, as well as French stopper Paul Nardi.
Rangers fans will be keen to see their team challenge for a spot in the top half of the second tier this year and will be confident this group, led by Cifuentes, can achieve that.
One from the history books
Albion secured three dramatic Sky Bet Championship points down at QPR in February 2019.
The Baggies took the lead early on through Jefferson Montero, only for Luke Freeman to equalise shortly before the break.
Jacob Murphy fired the away team back in front, however Tomer Hemed's penalty brought the scores level once again.
Darren Moore's men weren't to be denied victory in the capital though and won it right at the end when Jake Livermore slotted home from inside the box.
Watch the highlights below.
The last five at QPR
QPR 2-2 Albion
March 2024, Sky Bet Championship
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QPR 0-1 Albion
November 2022, Sky Bet Championship
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QPR 1-0 Albion
January 2022, Sky Bet Championship
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QPR 0-2 Albion
September 2019, Sky Bet Championship
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QPR 2-3 Albion
February 2019, Sky Bet Championship
The stats
This will be the fourth year in-a-row the Albion have kicked their campaign off away from home (AFC Bournemouth 2021, Middlesbrough 2022 & Blackburn Rovers 2023). It's the fifth consecutive opening game on the road the Baggies have had in the Sky Bet Championship. The last time they played at home on the first day of the season in the second tier was in 2018 (L 2-1 v Bolton Wanderers).
Albion have scored exactly two goals in all of their last three encounters with QPR and in six of the last eight meetings.
The Baggies have won six, drawn three and lost just one of their last 10 fixtures against Saturday's opponents.
The ticket details
Tickets for this weekend's encounter have now sold out.
A total of 1,760 Baggies will be in attendance down in London. Thank you for your terrific support!
The Albion colours
Carlos Corberán's men will kick the season off in the pink away kit!
