Sheffield Wednesday go up against Cardiff City in the Championship this afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday welcome Cardiff City to Hillsborough for what is the Owls’ final home game of 2023.
It caps a turbulent year for the club, but many are expecting the Owls to end the year on a high after an impressive upturn in form under Danny Rohl.
The 34-year-old has seen his side claim three wins from their last four to move to within six points of safety in in he Championship.
Cardiff are currently in 12th after an impressive maiden season from boss Erol Bulut who arrived in the summer.
But his side have lost four of their last five now and will surely be wary of playing an out of sorts Wednesday side this afternoon.
In what should be a tough game for both sides, we’ve picked out three key battles to keep an eye on…
Bailey Cadamarteri vs Mark McGuinness
Former Wednesday loan man Mark McGuinness returns to Hillsborough today.
He won over the hearts of Wednesday fans during his loan spell in the first half of last season, before he was recalled to parent club Cardiff.
He’s since become a key player for the Bluebirds, featuring in all 22 of their Championship games this season and starting all but one of them.
Today, he goes up against Wednesday’s new star Bailey Cadamarteri who is already looking for his fourth goal of the season.
Akin Famewo vs Yakou Meite
The 27-year-old Meite signed for Cardiff as a free agent in the summer, with Bulut hailing his ‘speed’ and ‘power’ as two key attributes of the Ivorian’s game.
He’s made 175 total appearances in the Championship, scoring 43 goals, with the bulk of those games and goals coming with Reading.
He’s a tried and tested Championship player then, going up against Famewo who’s take on a new role in the team this season.
Famewo is now the recognised left-back at Wednesday, but he’s been a steady player under Rohl and so this is another key battle in today’s game.
Ike Ugbo vs Di’Shon Bernard
Striker Ike Ugbo is Cardiff City’s top scorer in the Championship this season with four goals in 20 league outings.
He’s a livewire in attack who will look to run in behind opposition defences and so, for Wednesday centre-back Di’Shon Bernard, Ugbo could be a problem.
Bambo Diaby does the bulk of the aerial defending and clearances and what not, whilst Bernard will be tasked with tracking the runs of players like Ugbo, who often plays as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 set up.
Keeping tabs on him, and eventually keeping him quiet, could be where the match is won or lost for the Owls today.