The opening game of 2025 from the Riverside sees Cardiff City make the journey from South Wales.
Here is a closer look at the Bluebirds...
The background
Cardiff have been a Sky Bet Championship club since 2019, when they were relegated from the Premier League.
Since reaching the play-offs in 2019/20, things have been more challenging for the Bluebirds, with finishes of eighth, 18th and 21st before last season’s placing of 12th.
They started this season with a winless run of seven games before improving, and they enter 2025 bidding to pull away from relegation danger.
Cardiff are 23rd on 22 points, but a recent 2-1 win at play-off chasers Watford demonstrated their capabilities.
The boss
Omer Riza was part of Cardiff’s coaching staff before initially being named interim manager following the departure of Erol Bulut in late-September. He was appointed permanently in early December.
His playing days took him from Arsenal to 15 other clubs before he began his coaching career, first managing Cheshunt before spells on the staff of clubs including Leyton Orient, Watford and England’s Under-17s.
Riza’s contract as Cardiff manager lasts until the end of this season.
Key players
Cardiff’s most decorated player is also one of their favourite sons, Aaron Ramsey. Although injury has restricted his involvement this season, the former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder provides real quality from the middle of the park when available and his experience is invaluable.
Ramsey’s former Arsenal team-mate, Calum Chambers, was a summer 2024 arrival at the Cardiff City Stadium and is a regular at the back.
Yakou Meite, formerly of Reading, provides a spark on the flank while Ireland international Callum O’Dowda is another threat in forward areas.
Ex-Celtic midfielder David Turnbull and two-time Cardiff Player of the Year Perry Ng are among the team’s other biggest assets.
Past meetings
The reverse fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium ended in a 2-0 win for Boro in August, with Matt Clarke opening the scoring before a Ramsey own goal sealed the points.
Last season's meeting at the Riverside was also a 2-0 success for Boro, whose goalscorers were Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath.