Middlesbrough are one of English football’s older institutions, founded in 1876 and now based at the Riverside Stadium. Their present concern is the Championship, where they sit third in the 2026-27 season with a sizeable squad of 37 players and an average age of 25.
Their home form gives the clearest outline of the side: productive, open, and not especially inclined to keep matters tidy. They are averaging 2.8 goals scored and 1.8 conceded at the Riverside, with recent home results including a 4-3 win over Norwich City, a 3-1 win against West Bromwich Albion and a 2-2 draw with Millwall.
Will Lankshear has been the main scorer with eight goals, while Sebastian Berhalter, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Jeremy Sarmiento have each added two. Middlesbrough have also made a habit of starting quickly, scoring the first goal inside 20 minutes in nine of their 17 league matches.
Away from home, the picture is more controlled: one goal scored and one conceded per match on average, reflected in recent results such as a 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers and a 1-1 draw at Burnley. Their League Cup run reached the third round.
For Celtic supporters, Middlesbrough are a familiar type of English opponent: established, well-resourced by Championship standards, and currently positioned near the top end of a demanding division.