Prediction Stoke City vs Bradford City 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the Carabao Cup on 26/08/2025

Scene set at the Bet365: a Cup tie with clear favourites

The Bet365 Stadium will host a classic David-versus-Goliath feel on 26 August 2025 as Championship side Stoke City welcome League One’s in-form Bradford City for a Carabao Cup second round tie. With referee Leigh Doughty appointed to take charge and a capacity crowd of just over 30,000 waiting on Stanley Matthews Way, this one promises atmosphere and urgency — the kind of midweek knockout fixture that can swing quickly. Stoke arrive off the back of strong Championship results, including a 2-1 success at Southampton, while Bradford have collected momentum of their own in League One and will travel confident after a string of positive results.

Form, recent results and what they tell us

Stoke’s recent sequence tells a story of resilience and attacking intent. Victories at Sheffield Wednesday (3-0) and Derby County (3-1) and the 2-1 away win at Southampton highlight a side capable of imposing themselves and finding goals away from home. Their mixed results in pre-season and the heavy defeat to Liverpool are reminders of the quality gap when top-flight opposition arrives, but in domestic cup competition at the Bet365 they will expect to control large portions of the game. Sorba Thomas finished as Stoke’s best player in their last league outing with a 7.93 rating, a sign that individuals are standing up in key moments.

Bradford City have been quietly excellent in the early weeks of the season, stringing together wins over Stockport County, Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers, and settling for a point at Peterborough on their last outing. Will Swan earned the highest rating for Bradford in that draw, demonstrating the type of performances that have kept Bradford competitive and dangerous. Their form reads well on paper — more wins than defeats — and the away results show a team unafraid to play on the front foot.

Statistically the bookies side with Stoke. Market odds place the home win at 1.75 (roughly a 57% implied probability), while the draw and an away shock sit at 3.80 and 4.33 respectively. Stoke’s home advantage, Championship-level opposition and recent winning momentum make them the sensible pick on paper, but Bradford’s scoring form and confidence mean this is unlikely to be a one-sided affair.

Betting suggestion: 1X2 — Stoke City to win. The data and market odds favour the hosts to progress from this second-round Carabao Cup tie, with Stoke’s Championship rhythm and home setting making them the strongest single outcome to back.