Cardiff City head into the new season looking to go a few better and reach the playoffs after finishing in eighth place last time out.

Barnsley were the surprise package of the 2020/21 campaign as they finished in fifth place, but were edged out in the playoff semi finals by Swansea City.

The Tykes have gone through a shake-up of their squad as well as appointing a new manager, after Valerian Ismael left for West Brom and was replaced by Markus Schopp.

  • Form guide

Cardiff's pre-season results were a mixed bag, with wins against Bath City, Forest Green and Newport County, a draw to Exeter City and losses to Cambridge United and Southampton.

Barnsley played just four games in the run up to the season, with wins against Rochdale and Sheffield Wednesday, a draw to Morecambe and a loss to Manchester City.

  • Team news

Cardiff's key man Kieffer Moore is a doubt for the season opener as he returned to training this week after recovering from COVID-19. 

As a result, James Collins is in line to make his competitive debut in attack after joining from Luton Town in the summer.

Mick McCarthy will also be without Isaac Vassell, Lee Tomlin, Ruben Colwill, Kieron Evans and Isaak Davies.

The visitors will be without key centre-half Mads Andersen, with the Dane nursing a knee injury.

  • Predicted lineups

Cardiff City (3-4-3):

Smithies; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Ralls, Pack, Bagan; Bacuna, Collins, Giles

Barnsley (3-4-3):

Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer, Styles, Odour; Woodrow, Morris, Frieser.

  • Ones to watch

James Collins

Irish international Collins joined the Bluebirds in the summer on a free transfer after rejecting a new contract at Luton Town.

The 30-year-old has reached double figures in the Championship in his last two seasons, and will be looking to get off to a dream start at his new home in the first game of the campaign. 

Cauley Woodrow

Once a highly rated youngster, Woodrow looks to have finally found his home in South Yorkshire. 

The 26 year-old is into his fourth season as a Barnsley player, and he too has scored 10+ goals in his last two campaigns in the Championship. The former Fulham man has been rewarded with the Barnsley captaincy for the upcoming season by new manager Schopp.

  • Previous meetings

This fixture last season saw Cardiff run out 3-0 winners in early November.

The reverse fixture saw the teams play out a 2-2 draw at Oakwell.

  • How to watch

The game kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday 7 August. It is not being televised live in the UK, but is available to watch on the EFL's digital iFollow platform for those outside of the UK.

  • What the managers have said

Mick McCarthy spoke to the press about his side's build-up to the new season. He said:

"Southampton was a bit of a rude awakening but that’s not a bad thing. Everyone thought ‘wow, that’s the standard of the Premier League’.

We beat Newport, in fairness we should be Newport at home. But they were all competitive."

Markus Schopp insists that he expects a tough test against his opponents. He said:

“We want to win every game, naturally. But the Championship is a tough league. On Saturday, Cardiff is a tough opponent, and we know their qualities and what they are all about. But we have a clear focus, we will go there full of confidence. 

“They are a really clear team in terms of their identity. But it’s up to us to start the season well, with an attitude that I expect from my Barnsley team."