- Bristol City have found form under interim head coach Roy Hodgson.
- Philippe Clement aiming to avoid successive losses with Norwich.
- The Norwich star who could decide the game against Bristol City.
Norwich City are looking to bounce back from their frustrating defeat to Ipswich Town last weekend when they take on Bristol City on Saturday.
The Canaries travel to Ashton Gate for the first time since they were beaten 2-1 by Liam Manning’s side there last season.
Both teams have undergone changes on the pitch and in the dugout since that match, so it should be a very different game this time.
Bristol City’s star player
You typically look at the forward department when analysing an opposition team to see who their biggest threat is, but their star player is at the other end of the pitch.
The Robins swooped to sign Radek Vitek on loan from Manchester United last summer to be their new number one, replacing Max O’Leary.
| 2025-26 Championship | Radek Vitek | Rank (Among GKs) |
| Saves | 119 | 3rd |
| Saves Per 90 | 3.2 | 3rd |
| High Claims | 43 | 2nd |
| Goals Prevented | +4.78 | 5th |
| Save Percentage | 72.1% | 7th |
| Clean Sheets | 11 | 6th |
| Sweeper Actions | 27 | 9th |
In the Championship this season, only two goalkeepers have made more saves and only four goalkeepers have prevented more xG with the quality of their saves than the Bristol City star.
The Czechia youth international has been an unbelievable shot-stopper in the league, as evidenced by his last two performances.
Vitek has kept successive clean sheets for Roy Hodgson against QPR and Sheffield United, making nine saves and preventing 1.72 xG on target.
The Norwich star who could beat Radek Vitek
Mathias Kvistgaarden has struggled in Norfolk of late, failing to score in his last nine starts, and may not be the player best positioned to beat Vitek on Saturday.
We at Read Norwich have predicted Mohamed Toure to replace the Dane in the starting line-up for this game, having come off the bench in the last three matches since returning from injury.
Starting Toure could be the key to Norwich beating Bristol City this weekend because the key battle would become the Australian centre-forward against Vitek.
Since joining from Randers in February, the 22-year-old marksman has scored five goals and provided three assists in eight appearances for the Canaries.
Toure’s four Championship goals have come from 4.01 xG, showing that he has been clinical with the chances that have come his way, but now he is set to come up against one of the best shot-stoppers in the league.
It will be a fascinating battle between the two stars of the respective teams, as long as Norwich can create enough chances for their centre-forward, and it looks set to be the key battle that will decide the game.
My prediction…
My prediction for how this battle will go is that Vitek will make a couple of big saves from other players early on in the game, before Toure gets on the scoresheet to make it 1-0 before half time.
The Australia international, who is looking to be bang in form for the World Cup this summer, may get a second before the hour-mark, when Clement may take him off to give Kvistgaarden some minutes.
Vitek is a brilliant goalkeeper, and he may have a good game on Saturday, but Toure has been ruthlessly efficient and effective since signing for Norwich and I am backing him to win the battle.
2-0 win for Norwich. Toure with both goals.
