Both aiming to start their 2024-25 schedules on a positive note, Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion will lock horns at Loftus Road in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The R's will be hoping to kick on after a spell of relegation dogfights in recent times, whilst the Baggies are striving for promotion to the Premier League after narrowly missing out last term.
Match preview
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Taking charge of the club in October 2023 following the sacking of Gareth Ainsworth, Marti Cifuentes spearheaded a remarkable turnaround for QPR during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, with the London club avoiding an unthinkable relegation to League One.
The R's lost only 11 of their 33 competitive matches under the stewardship of the forward-thinking Spaniard last term as they finished six points ahead of 21st-placed Birmingham City, with an excellent run of three straight wins at the conclusion of the schedule securing safety.
After finishing six points above the dreaded drop in back-to-back seasons, QPR are now on a mission to compete at the top end of the Championship for the first time since 2014, when Harry Redknapp's troops won promotion to the Premier League via the playoff final at Wembley.
Finishing top of the pile in terms of goalscoring and playmaking last campaign for the R's, Ilias Chair will be a key force as Saturday's hosts aim to achieve something special this term, with the talented Moroccan possessing the ability to weave through second-tier defences at his best.
QPR come into this weekend's opener after three consecutive defeats to conclude their pre-season itinerary, although Cifuentes's side have pitted their wits against top-class opposition over the course of the summer, including Brighton & Hove Albion and Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur.
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Side characters in a Championship campaign dominated by Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Southampton, West Brom were the best of the rest in the division last season, ending up in fifth, but the Baggies were unable to make their Premier League dreams a reality in the playoffs.
After a goalless draw at The Hawthorns during the first leg of their playoff semi-final against Russell Martin's Saints, Albion froze on the road in deciding leg at St Mary's Stadium, where strikes from Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong condemned the visitors to a fourth successive term in the second tier.
Despite the recent takeover of the club by American businessman Shilen Patel, West Brom are not out of the woods in terms of financial issues and continue to work closely with the EFL to ensure that they do not breach any Profit and Sustainability rules as the 2024-25 term approaches.
As a result, the Baggies have taken a pragmatic stance in the summer transfer window to date, with a number of key first-team players from last season leaving the Black Country in order to raise funds, including top marksman Brandon Thomas-Asante and midfield general Okay Yokuslu.
Following a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies, West Brom played in front of supporters for the first time this summer last weekend at the home of League One Birmingham City, who managed a 4-1 victory over their Midlands neighbours thanks to goals from Alfie May, Christoph Klarer and Willum Willumsson.
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Team News
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Signing earlier this week from Spanish side Sporting Gijon, Jonathan Varane could make his QPR debut at Loftus Road this weekend if he is able to prove his fitness.
Lacking a prolific striker last term, the R's have recruited Slovenia international Zan Celar this summer, with the 25-year-old scoring 51 goals over the last three seasons at Lugano in Switzerland.
Following the departure of Conor Townsend to Ipswich Town, West Brom moved to secure the services of Juventus man Gianluca Frabotta, who is set to be first choice at left-back this season.
That being said, the Italian has not featured in pre-season for the Baggies so is unlikely to start this weekend, meaning that versatile defender Torbjorn Heggem should operate at full-back.
New arrival Devante Cole is behind the rest of his teammates in terms of fitness, with Josh Maja set to lead the line for the visitors in West London.
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Colback, Field, Smyth, Anderson, Kolli; Celar
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt, Fellows, Swift, Grant; Maja
We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
In front of a sold-out crowd at Loftus Road, Cifuentes and his QPR players will be desperate to commence their season with a convincing win on Saturday.
Last weekend's 4-1 loss at Birmingham hints to more struggles on the road for West Brom this season, and we feel that the Baggies will suffer a narrow defeat in this one.
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Carter White
