Middlesbrough vs Preston North End prediction | 1 Jan 2027 | xGtoday

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pre-match analysis

Middlesbrough Boro Rating: 74.3
H
74%
1 Jan 2027
Championship
D
17%
Preston North End Preston Rating: 60.6
A
9%
Middlesbrough
Ranking: #74 overall, #19 in England

73.7 → 74.3 (+0.6 over last 10 games)

Rating
2-1 12 May Southampton (A) 73.9 -0.5
1-0 23 May Hull City (A) 73.6 -0.3
2-1 15 Aug Lincoln City (H) 73.8 +0.2
2-1 22 Aug Blackburn (A) 73.9 +0.1
3-1 29 Aug West Brom (H) 74.3 +0.4
Preston North End
Ranking: #367 overall, #46 in England

59.9 → 60.6 (+0.7 over last 10 games)

Rating
2-3 25 Apr Sheff Utd (A) 60.8 +0.5
1-3 02 May Southampton (H) 60.6 -0.2
2-1 15 Aug Bolton (A) 60.7 +0.1
1-3 22 Aug Wolves (H) 60.4 -0.3
1-0 29 Aug Charlton (A) 60.6 +0.2

Middlesbrough vs Preston North End: by the numbers

There are 293 places between these two in our European rankings, with Middlesbrough the higher, and 27 places between them in England.

Preston North End arrive on the stronger recent trend, moving +0.7 rating points over their last 10 matches against Middlesbrough's +0.6.

Last time these teams played, on 24 Jan 2026, Middlesbrough gained 0.4 rating points.

Middlesbrough first climbed to joint #70 in our European rankings on 24 Oct 2023.

Preston North End first reached their highest ever xGtoday rating of 68.9 on 9 Feb 2019.