Middlesbrough and Southampton are set to face each other in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final. The match is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th, 2026, kicking off at 12:30 PM.
The fixture will be broadcast live across multiple Sky Sports channels, including Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Viewers will also have the option to stream the match via the Sky Sports app on mobile devices. This crucial tie marks a significant point in both teams' seasons as they vie for a spot in the final.
Road to the Play-offs
Middlesbrough finished the regular season in fifth place, securing 80 points from 46 games, with a goal difference of +25. Southampton also finished with 80 points, but edged into fourth place on goal difference (+26).
Both teams concluded their league campaigns with draws. Middlesbrough drew 2-2 away at Wrexham on May 2nd, 2026.
Southampton also drew 2-2 at home against Ipswich on April 28th, 2026. Their last recorded win was a 3-1 victory away at Preston on May 2nd, 2026.
Context and Broadcast Details
The Championship play-off semi-final first legs are taking place between Friday, May 8th, and Saturday, May 9th, 2026. The second legs are scheduled for the following week. All 15 play-off games across the Championship, League One, and League Two will be available live on Sky Sports, either on main channels or Sky Sports+.
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Sky Sports+ offers a way to watch these games without a contract. Existing Sky Sports subscribers can access these matches through the Sky Sports app. For those without a Sky subscription, streaming services like NOW offer day or month memberships.
Player Availability
Southampton have reported Jack Stephens, Alex McCarthy, and Mads Roerslev as unavailable due to injury.
Middlesbrough are missing Hayden Hackney, Alfie Jones, and Darragh Lenihan through injury.
