Kassam Stadium
Monday 29 December, 7:45pm
The U’s host Swansea City at the Kassam Stadium on Monday night in their final fixture of 2025, coming off an emphatic Boxing Day victory over Southampton.
Remembering Those We Lost In 2025
Oxford United will take a moment to honour the former players, supporters, and staff who sadly passed away in 2025 when we face Swansea City on Monday 29 December.
The pre-match period of remembrance has become a deeply emotional and significant moment for everyone connected with the Club. Once again this year, we will include the names submitted to us in both the match programme and on the big screen ahead of kick-off and at half-time.
Whether you come to honour someone close to you, or simply stand with the wider Oxford United family, the pre-match remembrance gives us a chance to celebrate the lives of those who loved this Club.
Form Guide - Snapshot
- Oxford United: W1 D1 L3 from the previous five games. Craig Short’s side claimed a vital Boxing Day victory over Southampton, and both the result and the performance will give the U’s faithful plenty of encouragement ahead of this clash with Swansea. The attacking football on display at the Kassam provided excellent entertainment, but the team will be well aware of the importance of building on those Boxing Day heroics with another strong performance and positive result.
- Swansea City: W3 D0 L2 in their last five. Sitting just one place and four points above the Yellows heading into this fixture, Swansea have endured an inconsistent run of form in recent weeks. After losing their last five away matches, the Swans will be aiming to bounce back from a narrow Boxing Day defeat to Coventry and put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
The Rivalry - A Quick Head-to-Head Check
The two sides met just weeks ago at the Swansea.com Stadium, where the Swans emerged with a 2–0 victory. Prior to that encounter, the head-to-head record between the clubs was evenly balanced, with both sides claiming the same number of wins from 30 meetings dating back to 1966.
A Dane Scarlett strike was not enough to prevent defeat the last time the teams met at the Kassam Stadium, but the Oxford squad will take confidence into this contest, particularly against a Swansea side that has struggled away from home.
The U’s most recent victory over Swansea came in the FA Cup in 2016, when goals from Kemar Roofe (2) and Liam Sercombe secured a thrilling 3–2 win.
"Ohhhhh We're Half Way There..."
With 23 matches played, the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season has officially reached its halfway stage.
The Yellows will be the first to admit that the opening half of the campaign has not quite unfolded as hoped. However, they move into the second half of the season above the relegation zone and buoyed by a superb victory over former Premier League side Southampton. The victory means that the team have claimed seven from a possible nine points against those that dropped down from the top flight last season, an impressive feat. However, results against sides in the bottom half of the table have not been as positive on the whole, and no doubt this will be a key area of focus going into 2026. The past week has brought significant change at the club, with more expected in the weeks ahead, but there is confidence that the performance against Southampton was no one-off and that similar displays will become far more frequent in the new year.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday appear all but relegated following points deductions earlier in the season, while Portsmouth, Norwich, Swansea, Sheffield United and Blackburn are all hovering dangerously close to the drop zone. With just eight points separating 15th and 22nd place, a run of consecutive victories for any of these sides - including the U’s - could quickly propel them up towards mid-table.
At the other end of the table, Coventry City continue to set the pace, with Middlesbrough occupying the other automatic promotion spot. The current play-off places are held by Ipswich Town, Hull City, Preston North End and Bristol City, though the congested nature of the league means none can afford a dip in form. Just six points separate Ipswich in third from Derby County in 11th, underlining how rapidly the picture could change.
Swansea City: Under The Microscope
1) Swansea City favour a possession-based approach, looking to dominate the ball through short, incisive passing rather than direct play. Their commitment to building from the back is reflected in the goalkeeping statistics, with Lawrence Vigouroux having attempted the sixth-fewest long passes of any goalkeeper in the league. This underlines the Swans’ clear preference for patient build-up play and playing out from defence.
2) Swansea currently hold the lowest expected goals (xG) total in the division. While they do not create a high volume of clear-cut chances each week, they have been clinical enough in front of goal to date to keep themselves clear of the bottom three in the league standings.
3) Swansea City are yet to concede a penalty kick this season, and they will be playing a side in Oxford that has not been awarded a penalty in 600 days.
Zan Vipotnik: Swansea's Lethal Forward Man
The Oxford defence did a great job in restricting the league's top goal scorer, Adam Armstrong, to minimal goalscoring chances on Boxing Day, and they will have to be on their game once more to keep out a fellow leading scorer in Zan Vipotnik.
The Slovenian international has nine goals to his name so far this season, including two in his last three, and is largely the reason that Swansea City have managed to remain outside of the relegation zone so far this season.
Vipotnik’s movement and positional awareness often put him in the right place at the right time, while his physical presence allows him to hold up play and bring teammates into the game. Overall, his finishing quality, goal involvement and ability to impact games consistently make him Swansea’s most potent attacking asset this season.
By the Numbers — Fast Facts
- Kick-off: Monday 29 December, 7:45pm at the Kassam Stadium.
- Recent form (last five): Oxford W1 D1 L3; Swansea City W3 D0 L2.
- Goals: Both teams have scored 24 goals so far this season.
- Fun Fact: Four of the last eight meetings between the two have ended goalless.
- Historic classics: Oxford 3-2 Swansea (10 January 2016); Swansea 3-3 Oxford (3 May 2025); Oxford 5-1 Swansea (9 December 1995)
- Top Goal scorers this season: Will Lankshear (5 goals); Zan Vipotnik (9 goals).
Voices from the Camp:
Watch Craig Short and Tyler Goodrham's OUTV interviews below:
TICKETS
A limited number of tickets for Monday night's clash with Swansea City remain on sale. Secure your seats for this exciting encounter in OX4 by:
- Clicking HERE
- Calling 01865 337 533
- Visiting the Ticket Office in person
RETAIL
The Club Shop will be open from 1pm until 7:45pm on Monday, so be sure to stop by and check out the latest 2025/26 merchandise ahead of kick off. Our Boxing Day Sale remains LIVE - with plenty of exciting offers and discounts available for you to enjoy.
Matchday Guide
Get ready for matchday at the Kassam Stadium!
Our comprehensive guide will give you all you need to know before your visit. Click the arrow below to explore travel info, stadium facilities, and top tips for making the most of your day.
Disabled Supporters Guide
Plan your visit with confidence using our Disabled Supporters Guide to the Kassam Stadium. Inside, you’ll find all the key information on accessibility, facilities, and matchday support. Click the arrow below to learn more.
Away Supporters Guide
Visiting the Kassam Stadium as an away fan? Our Away Supporters Guide has everything you need to know before matchday — from travel and parking to facilities and seating. Click the arrow below to get prepared for your trip.
Stream LIVE On OUTV
Don’t miss a minute of the action – stream the game live on the Club’s OUTV platform.
International fans can watch the game live, depending on their location. The match is streamable worldwide, except for the United Kingdom and Ireland.
