With four games to go, this insane Championship statistic proves it’s the best league in the world

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We love the Championship, naturally, but now we have definitive proof that it’s the best league in the world, and the 2024/25 campaign is the only evidence you need.

It’s been a thrilling season so far, and in many ways, we’ll be sad to see it end. With four games left (plus the play-offs), we are sure to see plenty more drama unfold, too.

The upcoming fixtures over Easter weekend will have a big say in the Championship title race, the fate of all the play-off contenders, and the Championship relegation battle, too.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	42	25	13	4	82	29	53	88
2	BurnleyBurnley	42	24	16	2	57	13	44	88
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	42	26	7	9	57	33	24	83
4	SunderlandSunderland	42	21	13	8	57	38	19	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	42	16	16	10	54	45	9	64
6	CoventryCoventry	42	18	9	15	59	54	5	63
7	West BromWest Brom	42	14	18	10	51	39	12	60
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	42	17	9	16	61	51	10	60
9	MillwallMillwall	42	16	12	14	41	41	0	60
10	BlackburnBlackburn	42	16	8	18	45	45	0	56
11	WatfordWatford	42	16	8	18	50	55	-5	56
12	SwanseaSwansea	42	15	9	18	45	51	-6	54

While the likes of Leeds United and Burnley now look set to leave the league under good circumstances with promotion, teams like Derby County and Cardiff City are fighting to remain in the second tier.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, and that’s the beauty of the Championship.

• READ MORE: The 20 best players in the Championship right now: Jobe Bellingham, Dan James, Maxime Esteve and more

Every team in the Championship still has something to fight for

Incredibly, with only four games still to play, it is still mathematically possible for every single team in the Championship to either get promoted, or be relegated, or in some cases, both.

With 12 points to play for, we know that two of Leeds, Burnley, and Sheffield United will clinch automatic promotion, while Sunderland could, technically still land on 88 points and go up that way, though they’d need an extraordinary turn of events and a record-breaking number of goals.

The Black Cats have a play-off spot guaranteed, as do one of the three teams at the top. But, anyone from fifth-placed Bristol City down to 14th-placed Sheffield Wednesday could join them in the top six and chase down Wembley glory.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
13	NorwichNorwich	42	13	14	15	63	58	5	53
14	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	42	14	11	17	56	64	-8	53
15	QPRQPR	42	12	14	16	49	55	-6	50
16	PrestonPreston	42	10	19	13	43	51	-8	49
17	Oxford UnitedOxford United	42	12	12	18	43	60	-17	48
18	Stoke CityStoke City	42	11	14	17	43	54	-11	47
19	PortsmouthPortsmouth	42	12	10	20	50	66	-16	46
20	Hull CityHull City	42	11	12	19	41	50	-9	45
21	DerbyDerby	42	11	10	21	44	54	-10	43
22	CardiffCardiff	42	9	15	18	45	66	-21	42
23	LutonLuton	42	10	10	22	37	63	-26	40
24	PlymouthPlymouth	42	9	13	20	44	82	-38	40

Meanwhile, down at the bottom, many believe there is a relegation mini-league going on, with Plymouth, Luton, Cardiff, and Derby the main candidates to go down right now.

But, in truth, anyone from 12th-placed Swansea City could theoretically fall into the drop zone if the right swing of results occur over the coming weeks.

It is truly incredible and pretty mind-blowing, really, that every single team in the league technically still has something to fight for at this stage of the season. How many leagues in the world can say that?

• READ MORE: How many points Bristol City and Coventry City need to secure their Championship play-off spots

The real problem is the gulf between the Championship and the Premier League

Interestingly, the only two teams confirmed for the 2025/26 Championship campaign are Southampton and Birmingham, with the Saints dropping down from the Premier League and Birmingham already wrapping up the League One title.

Sadly, therein lies the main issue with the English Football League. Birmingham racing to the title down in the third tier makes sense, but seeing Southampton, and indeed, Leicester City and Ipswich absolutely flounder in the top flight after dominating the Championship is very worrying.

Truth is, the gap between the Premier League and the Championship is bigger than ever, and it’s only getting more severe. As top flight teams spend big and bolster their own position, newly-promoted sides have to settle for Championship talent, and it’s simply not good enough to survive in the Premier League now.

Hopefully, we can be proven wrong next season. To have the same teams go up and then immediately back down to the Championship for three seasons in a row would be a damning indictment on the game, and will surely leave teams wondering whether they even want to get promoted at all.