On 23 September 2025, the English Football League Cup will feature a 1/16 final match between Barnsley and Brighton. Kick-off is set for 20:45 Central European Time. Here’s what to know about the game.
Barnsley
Barnsley currently plays in League One. Last season, they finished 12th, safely mid-table, neither in contention for promotion nor at risk of relegation. This season, they started strong with an unbeaten streak over four matches, facing their first loss against Wimbledon. They bounced back with wins at home over Huddersfield and Reading, although they recently lost 0-1 to Blackpool on the road.
Despite that setback, Barnsley sits sixth in the table with 16 points, trailing leaders Bradford by four points and having a game in hand. They have been especially strong at home, remaining unbeaten so far this season.
In the League Cup, Barnsley showed resilience by first defeating League Two’s Fleetwood on penalties and then beating Rotherham 2-1. Now they face Brighton, a Premier League team with more resources. However, Barnsley has a solid home record against Brighton, with four wins, two draws, and two losses in their last eight meetings at Oakwell.
Brighton
Brighton has established themselves as a stable mid-table team in the Premier League. Last season, they were close to qualifying for Europe, finishing eighth, missing out by four points. This new season has been challenging for them, with just one victory in five games—a home win against Manchester City. They lost all their away matches and recorded two draws at home, including a recent 2-2 match against Tottenham.
Brighton entered the League Cup a round later than Barnsley and easily defeated Championship team Oxford United 6-0.
In recent meetings with Barnsley, Brighton has performed well, securing two wins and a draw in their last three contests, during which they kept clean sheets.
Probable lineups
- Barnsley: Cooper, Ogbeta, Earl, Shephard, Watson, Connell, Bland, McGoldrick, Phillips, Wickers, Kaylor-Dunn.
- Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Kadioglu, Ayari, Baleba, Mitoma, Gruda, Minteh, Rutter.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Barnsley have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Barnsley are 4 for 6 in their last home games.
- Both teams have scored in 3 of Barnsley’s last 4 matches.
- Brighton are unbeaten in 14 of their last 16 matches.
- Both teams have scored in 5 of Brighton’s last 7 games.
- Brighton are unbeaten in 6 of the last 8 head-to-head meetings.
- 7 of the last 8 encounters have had under 3.5 goals.
Barnsley vs Brighton match prediction
Barnsley started the season well but have lost some momentum recently. Brighton, while struggling this season, will be eager to improve. This match is crucial for them as they aim to demonstrate their quality. Expect Brighton to take control and secure a solid win. My prediction is a Brighton victory with a -1.5 handicap at odds of 1.74.