Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Kick-off: Saturday 18th August at 3:00pm (Highlights on BBC One Match Of The Day 10:20pm)
Referee: Kevin Friend
Possible Line-ups
Reading: Federici; Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte; Le Fondre, Guthrie, Leigertwood, McCleary; Robson-Kanu, Pogrebnyak.
Stoke: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Upson, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington; Walters, Crouch.
Match Notes
After enduring a four year absences from the Premier League, Reading Football Club are back in the top flight of the English game. Their opponents Stoke City have established themselves as a mid-table Premier League side and are gearing up for their fifth consecutive season in the league. In Readings first ever Premier League season back in 2006-07, The Royals won 35 points at home which meant they avoided relegation, although in 2007-08 they only managed 26 points in front of their home crowd. Those 9 points were crucial in seeing Reading relegated from the Premier League as well as a minimal goal difference of just 4. Home form for The Royals will be crucial in seeing them survive in the Premier League although Stoke City will be a difficult challenge for the team to overcome this afternoon. Stoke have made three new additions to their squad with the likes of Jamie Ness, Michael Kightly and Geoff Cameron all joining this summer. Stoke will want to grab their first 3 points on the road and with the likes of Kenwyne Jones and Peter Crouch Reading fans could find themselves dishearten after the first 90 minutes.
Matt Robinson's Prediction
Reading 1- 2 Stoke City