Middlesbrough v Norwich City: promotion chase meets resurgent strugglers | OneFootball

Middlesbrough host Norwich City in the Championship at Riverside Stadium on Saturday, 31 January 2026, with the hosts defending a top-two spot and the visitors looking to stretch a four-wins-in-five run.

Middlesbrough won the reverse fixture 2-1 away in August, while Norwich City have put together three straight league wins to steady their campaign.

Boro have four wins from five, including a 4-0 home victory over Preston and away successes at West Brom and Stoke. The Canaries' upturn features a 5-0 at West Brom and a 2-1 defeat of Coventry.

Boro are without defenders Darragh Lenihan, Matt Targett, George Edmundson, Alfie Jones and Alex Bangura, with forwards David Strelec and Mamadou Kaly Sene also sidelined. The Canaries' list includes Shane Duffy, Jeffrey Schlupp, Mirko Topić and Ante Crnac.

Boro could look to control things. They average 57% possession, 84.48% pass accuracy and have eight clean sheets this season. The Canaries have scored 37 but conceded 41, so transitions and set pieces could be key. They have won 508 aerial duels. For individual threat, Morgan Whittaker is on 11 league goals and 16 goal involvements this season, while Jovon Makama has 10 for the Canaries.

A win would move Boro to 58 points and could draw them level with leaders Coventry City, strengthening their promotion push. Victory would take the Canaries to 36 points and could lift them from 18th towards 17th, easing relegation worries.