Breaking: Portsmouth face Leeds United in 2024-25 opener in brutal run of Championship fixtures

The League One champions have been handed an Elland Road clash on Saturday, August 10 to start the 2024-25 season.

The match, which is to be televised on Sky Sports with a 12.30pm kick-off time, represents the Blues’ first visit to Leeds since October 2011.

Such has been the wildly differing fortunes between the clubs ever since, they subsequently have never operated in the same division following that 2011-12 Championship season - until now.

It signals one of Pompey’s stand-out games from the Football League fixture list for 2024-25, which was released today at 9am.

Leeds also marks a tough start to the campaign for John Mousinho’s men, who then face Luton at Fratton Park (August 17) and a trip to Middlesbrough (August 24) during their opening three league games.

Indeed, the Blues will play the three sides relegated from the Premier League - Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United - in the first seven weeks of the Championship season.

Elsewhere, the festive period consists of travelling to Watford on Boxing Day, away at Bristol City (December 29) and then hosting Swansea on New Year’s Day.

The season concludes on Saturday, May 3, with Hull visiting Fratton Park two weeks before the FA Cup final (May 17).

Other noteworthy fixtures are Oxford United at Fratton Park (October 5), the trip to Plymouth (November 5), Millwall away (April 5), and the reunion with old League One rivals Sunderland (August 31 and January 4).

Meanwhile, the opening Carabao Cup match is scheduled for Wednesday, August 14, with that draw taking place tomorrow.

Pompey will now enter the FA Cup at the third round stage, which is pencilled in for January 11, while the EFL Trophy is no longer part of their fixture list.

All matches are subject to change, particularly in line with Sky Sports’ new television deal with the Football League.