Who holds the upper hand in the long-standing rivalry between Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers? The statistics clearly favor QPR, who have dominated this fixture over the years. With 17 wins compared to Cardiff’s 8 in their 31 meetings since 2004, QPR has established themselves as the more successful side in this matchup.
Historical dominance of QPR
The rivalry between Cardiff City and QPR dates back to November 14, 1931, when they first met in Division Three (South). That match ended in a crushing 4-0 defeat for Cardiff. The following year, in March 1932, Cardiff managed to secure a 3-2 victory, but this pattern of occasional Cardiff wins amid QPR dominance has persisted throughout their history.
QPR has scored 41 goals against Cardiff over their encounters, averaging 1.3 goals per game. Cardiff, meanwhile, has netted 27 times, averaging just 0.9 goals per match. This goal difference further illustrates QPR’s historical edge in this fixture.
Recent form and notable matches
The last few years have seen a continuation of QPR’s general superiority, though with some fluctuations. In their last five matches leading up to May 2025:
- QPR won 3, drew 1, and lost 1
- Cardiff won 1, drew 1, and lost 3
- QPR averaged 1 goal per match while conceding 2
- Cardiff averaged 1.2 goals per match while conceding 1.6
Recent notable matches include QPR’s convincing 3-0 victory in October 2022 and their 2-0 win in November 2024. Cardiff did manage to secure a 2-1 win on New Year’s Day 2024, showing they can occasionally overcome their London rivals.
The most recent encounters
The most recent clash between these teams ended in a goalless draw on April 5, 2025. This followed QPR’s 2-0 victory in November 2024, suggesting that Cardiff may have improved their defensive approach against QPR in their latest meeting.
Prior to these matches, QPR secured a 2-1 win in August 2023, continuing their historical dominance. However, Cardiff’s 2-1 victory on January 1, 2024, demonstrated their ability to ouccasionally upset the form book.
What makes this rivalry significant
Despite the statistical imbalance, Cardiff City vs QPR remains an intriguing fixture in the Championship calendar. The geographical contrast between the Welsh capital and the West London side adds an interesting dimension to their meetings.
Both clubs have experienced periods in the Premier League in recent years, adding weight to their encounters in the Championship, Their matches often feature competitive performances regardless of the historical record, with six draws from their 31 meetings indicating that stalemates are not uncommon.
The rivalry continues to evolve, with Cardiff occasionally showing signs of closing the historical gap. Whether they can reverse the long-term trend remains to be seen, but their meetings continue to provide entertainment and drama for supporters of both clubs.