The 10 Greatest Opening Day Matches in EFL History

The 10 Greatest Opening Day Matches in EFL History

The EFL pyramid started yesterday, and we saw some games that will go down in the history books. One such example if Reading vs Luton. After that game finished, the question came up, what are the best matches we have seen in EFL history?

10. Bristol City 4-1 Sheffield United – 2025/26

This game was a shock to everyone when the final whistle went. Sheffield was supposed to be one of the stronger sides in the league challenging for the top and the title. However, that first game made them look miles away. They were played off the pitch and the scoreline reflected that. One massive shock and one that lands them on this list.

9. Stoke City 3-2 Reading – 2021/22

This game was what people love about the first game of the season. There is limited tactical showing and much more a test of fitness. This makes games massively open and that is what this game was. Goals and attacking left right and centre. It was a game where one side would take the lead and see it gone in seconds. A classic.

8. Bournemouth 3-2 Blackburn Rovers – 2020/21

Like the game before this was just attack after attack. It was two sides who were in different positions but showed the same ambitions. Bournemouth looking to return to the Prem and Blackburn looking for promotion. This led to the game showing pure football excitement.

7. Blackburn Rovers 4-2 Derby County – 2024/25

This was a game where you could see true difference between 2 sides. One that had been promoted to the league and one looking to fight for promotion. This led to a one-sided match where Blackburn ran rampant and dominated every part of the pitch for large portions of the match.

6. Sheffield Wednesday 3-3 Portsmouth – 2022/23

This is what happens when you have 2 strong sides with the same ambition. Both Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth were looking for promotion this season, and they started by flexing their attacks. Both sides were flying when getting the ball forward and causing damage in every attack. This is what football fans want to see when the club football is back, and it didn’t disappoint.

5. Luton Town 3-3 Middlesbrough – 2019/20

This one became something that pushed Luton forward until they came into the Prem. They found themselves in the Championship and in the first match week found themselves facing Middlesbrough. They went behind twice in that game but showed the fight to come back and take a point from the game. That showed them they were going to experience a different beast this season.

4. Leeds United 3-3 Portsmouth – 2024/25

Favourites to win the league against a newly promoted side. It looks like these matches have a common outcome, goals. This one didn’t fail to do that. What makes this game that bit better is the late drama. Portsmouth took the lead with a late spot kick. However, Leeds levelled literally seconds later. Pure drama and an all timer.

3. Nottingham Forest 4-3 Burton Albion – 2016/17

A 7-goal thriller and one that saw a comeback all on the first match week. What more could we ask for. It was pure drama. Forest was comfortably in the lead however, Burton managed to claw the game back level before Forest broke hearts. They managed to find one more and this time there wasn’t an answer. That is some way to start the top 3.

2. Reading 3-4 Luton – 2026/27

The game that we mentioned in the intro. This was something special and what we consider the second-best opening game ever. We saw early goals, later goals, a hattrick basically everything you would want. Luton came out early but Reading and Jack Marriott wouldn’t let that be scoring a 30 minutes hattrick. The Luton focused again and managed to level the game before a 96th minute winner. Pure footballing brilliance.

what day for these luton fans at Reading. came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 with a 96th minuite winner #luton #lutontown #reading #leagueone #ltfc pic.twitter.com/bTnLMWYUOW

— away day lads (@awaydayladsfs) August 15, 2026

1. Southampton 4-4 Norwich – 2023/24

The top of this list is an 8-goal thriller. It was something special. Neither side had control of the game for extended periods and that just made it better. People could change the game by themselves, and they did. It was made even better when Southampton found themselves with a 97th minute pen that Adam Armstrong managed to slot away. It will go down as the best ever and will take some beating.