Reading vs Cardiff City: 2025/26 Match Preview

Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy / | CameraSport via Getty Images After losing to both Doncaster Rovers and top-of-the-table Lincoln City, the Royals now host Cardiff City, who are also looking to be automatically promoted. The Royals are playing some horrible football under Leam Richardson and even the players are rumoured to be complaining now. We were warned by Wigan Athletic fans that his style of play may win us games but it definitely isn’t pretty to watch.

Gloom is going over the Reading fanbase, just waiting to see what happens next with Richardson still in charge. Cardiff managed a late, late draw against Huddersfield Town with Yousef Salech getting the goal to equalise in the fifth minute of added time in the second half. The 6 foot 5 striker is really starting to come along in this Bluebirds side and his 14 goals this season have helped Cardiff pretty much achieve promotion back to the Championship.

The Welsh team were always destined to go back up and I just want to say a potential congratulations to them and Lincoln for making that happen. The head-to-head between the sides is in the Royals’ favour with 29 wins, 24 draws and 26 defeats. Despite this, Reading haven’t beaten Cardiff since 2022, when Shane Long and Tom Ince scored the goals to win the game 2-1 for the Royals.

In this preview I will mention more players who have played for both and I will give my predictions. What? League One matchday 43 Season?