The beauty of football is encapsulated by its unpredictability. And there is nothing more unpredictable than when two clubs butt heads in a one-off final, whether that be at the end of a playoff campaign or one that sees someone crowned as a European champion. Typically, a final represents a level playing ground.
No matter the opponent or the size of the occasions, both teams have a good chance at reigning victorious come the end of the 90 minutes – or even longer should extra-time and penalties be required. However, there are some factors that give final-reaching teams the upper hand. Ahead of what is to come in this season's rendition of the , and Playoff finals, a deep dive into the archives has been taken to identify some of the recurring themes.
These themes include: whether the 'home' team were more likely to win; whether league position had any impact on them winning the final; whether the winners had enjoyed previous success in said final or whether the team located closer to the final venue won. Using , you can take the following pointers into account when hedging your bets on this season's Champions League, Europa League and Championship playoff finals. Championship Playoff Final - Previous Five Season Home Team Score Away Team 2022/23 Coventry City 1-1 (5-6 on pens) Luton Town 2021/22 Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest 2020/21 Brentford 2-0 Swansea City 2019/20 Brentford 1-2 Fulham 2018/19 Aston Villa 2-1 Derby County With all finals being played at England�.