Oxford United face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
The classic cup tie at the Kassam Stadium pits the Championship strugglers against their Premier League opponents. Oxford will be looking for a major upset to kick-start their season, while Brighton are desperate to secure their first victory of the campaign.
The U’s progressed with a 1-0 victory over Colchester United in the first round. Brighton, meanwhile, received a bye to this stage. Both sides will view this match as a vital opportunity to build much-needed momentum.
Oxford United vs Brighton – Match Preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 27th August 2025
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST
- Venue: The Kassam Stadium, Oxford
- Last Meeting: Oxford United 2-4 Brighton & Hove Albion, August 23, 2016, EFL Cup
Team News
Oxford United
Manager Gary Rowett is expected to name his strongest possible side as Oxford seek a major cup upset. Despite a dismal start to their league campaign, the U’s have no new major injury concerns. The team will be built around key creative players like Cameron Brannagan and Siriki Dembélé.
Cup ties at the Kassam! 🏆
Excited to see you tomorrow, Yellows. Get your tickets now. ⤵️
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) August 26, 2025
Brighton
Fabian Hürzeler will use this cup tie to heavily rotate his squad and give opportunities to fringe players. New signings Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola could be handed their full debuts in defence.
Veteran midfielder James Milner, a two-time winner of this trophy, is also expected to start. The team remains without absentees Adam Webster and Solly March.
Form
Oxford United
Oxford United have endured a miserable start to the season. They currently sit bottom of the Championship table, having lost all three of their opening league games.
Their only victory this season came in the first round of this competition, and they will be desperate for another positive cup result to ignite their campaign.
Brighton
The Seagulls are also searching for their first victory of the new season. After a frustrating opening-day draw at Fulham, they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday. A missed penalty in that match summed up a difficult afternoon, and Fabian Hürzeler will be looking for a much-improved performance from his side.
Predicted Lineups
Oxford United: Cumming; Ter Avest, Helik, Moore, Currie; De Keersmaecker, Brannagan; Mills, Lankshear, Dembélé; Harris.
Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Coppola, Boscagli, Kadıoğlu; Hinshelwood, Milner, Gómez; O’Riley, Minteh; Welbeck.
How to watch Oxford United vs Brighton?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ in the UK. Coverage will begin shortly before the 7:45pm BST kick-off, with streaming available via the Sky Go and Now TV apps.
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