Middlesbrough vs Ipswich Prediction and Betting Tips opens this weekend’s action in the EFL Championship, with Rob Edwards’s Boro hosting Kieran McKenna’s in-form Tractor Boys at the Riverside Stadium on Friday. Both sides enter from contrasting moods before the international break, and in this preview, you’ll find fresh insight and data-driven Championship Predictions powered by XpertStats analysts.

• Middlesbrough return from the break aiming to reclaim top spot in the Championship.
• Ipswich come in riding momentum after their 3-1 East Anglian Derby win.
• Boro boast one of the best defensive records in the league this season.
• Seven of their last eight meetings have produced under 2.5 goals.

Middlesbrough’s rise this season has been built on rock-solid defending and sharp transitions, but that rhythm took a hit with their 1-0 loss to Portsmouth earlier this month. It was their first league defeat of the campaign after an eight-match unbeaten run. They’ve averaged just one goal per game but conceded only 0.25, a stat that tells the story of a side more pragmatic than explosive. Still, Edwards will want his men sharper in the final third if they’re to reclaim the top spot. Can they find that cutting edge again under the Riverside lights?

At home, Boro have been a fortress, picking up 12 points from five matches and limiting opponents to minimal chances. Their 3-4-3 shape, anchored by Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris, gives them control but not always creativity. With Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway pushing for goals and Sverre Nypan’s emergence adding youthful flair, the ingredients are there, it’s just a question of chemistry. Even so, their low scoring and defensive discipline suggest a cagey affair rather than a free-flowing spectacle.

Ipswich, on the other hand, seem to be rediscovering their groove. McKenna’s men went into the break on an unbeaten five-game run, capped by that thrilling 3-1 win over Norwich City. The energy from Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke in wide areas has been infectious, while George Hirst’s hold-up play keeps the attack ticking. Yet, despite their flair, Ipswich have averaged just 0.67 goals per game while conceding one, proof that this team’s bite doesn’t always match its bark. Still, they’re dangerous on the break and thrive in games where patience is key.

Both sides lean heavily on structure and defensive compactness. It’s no surprise then that seven of their last eight meetings have gone under 2.5 goals. Middlesbrough’s control-oriented approach meets Ipswich’s counter-attacking discipline, a clash that feels like chess rather than chaos. It’s hard to say how this will end, but one thing seems clear: goals might be scarce once again in this tight encounter between two smartly coached Championship sides. Expect tactical tension, fine margins, and a result that could shape the early promotion race in the Championship Predictions lineup.