The battle for Premier League promotion from the second-tier EFL Championship switches focus to the play-offs with just one spot left in the top-flight next season.
Vincent Kompany's Burnley have already clinched the the league title, and an immediate Premier League return, with Sheffield United finally grabbing second place, and the other automatic promotion slot.
That means the Championship promotion play-off race will decide the third team joining the Premier League 2023/24 season with the final held on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
The four teams battling for that final promotion place — the teams ranked from third to sixth in the final table — are Luton Town (3rd), Middlesbrough (4th), Coventry City (5th), and Sunderland (6th).
MORE: Updated 2022/23 Premier League table
Luton Town vs Sunderland (Play-off semi final)
| Matches | Date | Kickoff Time (GMT/ET) |
| Leg 1: Sunderland vs. Luton Town | May 13/14 | TBD |
| Leg 2: Luton Town vs. Sunderland | May 16/17 | TBD |
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City (Play-off semi final)
| Matches | Date | Kickoff Time (GMT/ET) |
| Leg 1: Coventry vs. Middlesbrough | May 13/14 | TBD |
| Leg 2: Middlesbrough vs. Coventry | May 16/17 | TBD |
Championship Play-off Final
| Match | Date | Kickoff Time (GMT/ET) |
| Luton Town / Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough / Coventry City | May 27, 2023 | TBD |
EFL Championship promotion play-offs 2023
Luton Town and Middlesbrough were the first to clinch promotion play-off spots, with Coventry City and Sunderland confirming their spots on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
A shock 4-3 home loss suffered by Millwall gave Sunderland, who won 3-0 at Preston on the final day, the opportunity to slot into the play-offs at the very end. Sunderland edged out Blackburn on goal difference (+13 vs. -2).
Table as of May 8, 2023
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played | Goals Scored | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Burnley - Y | 101 | 46 | 87 | +52 |
| 2. | Sheffield United - Y | 91 | 46 | 73 | +34 |
| —— | ——automatic—— | ——— | ———— | ———— | ————— |
| 3. | Luton Town - Z | 80 | 46 | 57 | +18 |
| 4. | Middlesbrough - Z | 75 | 46 | 84 | +28 |
| 5. | Coventry - Z | 70 | 46 | 58 | +12 |
| 6. | Sunderland - Z | 69 | 46 | 68 | +13 |
| —— | ———playoff——— | ——— | ———— | ———— | ————— |
| 7. | Blackburn | 69 | 46 | 52 | -2 |
| 8. | Millwall | 68 | 46 | 57 | +7 |
| 9. | West Brom | 67 | 46 | 59 | +7 |
Y - secured automatic promotion to Premier League
Z - secured play-off spot
2023 EFL Championship play-off final
The two-legged playoff semifinals will take place on May 13/14 and May 16/17 with the two victorious sides moving to a winner-takes-all final at Wembley on Saturday on May 27, 2023.
Alongside Premier League promotion, the play-off final winner is also in line for a major financial boost, with the game regularly labelled as the 'richest game in world football' based on its importance.
Based on data from 2022, the estimated reward for winning the playoff final is an extra £265m ($328m) to kickoff the following Premier League season.
Odds as of April 30, 2023.
| Team to get promoted via playoffs | BetMGM (USA) | SkyBet (UK) |
| Middlesbrough | +195 | 13/8 |
| Luton Town | +205 | 2/1 |
| Coventry City | +530 | 5/1 |
| Millwall | +750 | 15/2 |
| Sunderland | +750 | 18/1 |
| West Brom | +850 | 22/1 |
| Blackburn | +1500 | 33/1 |
Teams promoted to Premier League in 2023
With the two automatic promotion spots already confirmed, the Premier League welcomes back two familiar faces next season, with Burnley relegated less than 12 months ago, and Sheffield dropping out of the top-flight in 2021.
However the potential for a new team in the Premier League is an option next season, with Luton Town never playing in the division before, and the other playoff candidates failing to return in recent seasons.
| Team | 2022/23 EFL Championship position | No. of Premier League seasons | Last Premier League season |
| Burnley | 1st | 8 | 2021/22 |
| Sheffield United | 2nd | 5 | 2020/21 |
| TBD | Play-off Winner | - | - |
Comments
0 comment