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The wait is finally over. After a summer of significant change and an encouraging pre-season campaign, Queens Park Rangers return to Championship action on Saturday with a trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth. There is a noticeably different atmosphere around QPR heading into the new season. The arrivals of Tariq Lamptey, Glen Kamara and Dennis Cirkin have added genuine quality to a squad that already looked far stronger than it did 12 months ago, while the goalkeeping situation, arguably the club’s biggest problem throughout last season, has been comprehensively addressed. Rangers also head to the south coast unbeaten in pre-season, with a 3-2 victory over Fiorentina and a 7-0 demolition of Bromley particularly eye-catching. The 1-1 draw against Millwall in the EFL Cup was another largely positive display against a side that finished third in the Championship last season, even if four missed penalties in the shootout rather spoiled the ending. More importantly, Nicolas Madsen’s return to fitness was a huge boost, and QPR now have a real opportunity to begin the campaign strongly with Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City making up a relatively favourable opening run. A Summer Of Real Progress There is a genuine argument that this is the strongest and deepest QPR squad in years, particularly when compared to the group Julien Stéphan inherited little more than 12 months ago. Rangers have strengthened in a number of areas without appearing to sacrifice the attacking identity that began to emerge during his first season, while the additions of Lamptey, Kamara and Cirkin give the manager three established players with significant pedigree. Lamptey, in particular, has the potential to transform a position that had been a problem for far too long. Amadou Mbengue did an admirable job filling in at right-back for much of last season, but his limitations going forward were repeatedly exposed and QPR desperately needed greater natural attacking quality from that side of the pitch. Cirkin provides similar quality and athleticism on the opposite flank, while Kamara could be an enormously important addition in midfield if Rangers can keep him fit. The work done between the posts has arguably been even more impressive. QPR’s goalkeepers endured a torrid 2025/26 campaign, but the arrivals of Calum Ward and Pierce Charles have completely changed the picture. Charles arrives as one of the most highly-rated young goalkeepers in the EFL, while Ward was statistically the standout goalkeeper in the Scottish Premiership last season, and suddenly a position of serious weakness looks like one of genuine strength. The Millwall game also offered a timely reminder of what this squad could be capable of when key players are available. Madsen’s fitness is absolutely fundamental to how Rangers want to play, and having him back before the league season begins is a huge positive after the importance of his performances under Stéphan became increasingly clear last year. Of course, the EFL Cup exit itself was frustrating. QPR competed well against an excellent Millwall side and were arguably the better team for long periods, but somehow managing to miss all four penalties in a 2-0 shootout defeat was a spectacularly poor way to exit the competition. The performance, however, was much more important than the result at this stage, particularly with the league campaign now taking centre stage. A Chance To Start Quickly The fixture list has given QPR an opportunity to build some early momentum. There are no easy games in the Championship, particularly away at Fratton Park, but Rangers will know that Portsmouth, Bolton, Blackburn and Cardiff is a run from which they should be targeting a healthy points return. Starting well matters, particularly after last season demonstrated just how quickly the mood around a club can change. QPR were genuine outsiders for the play-offs at one stage before a miserable second half of the campaign saw them drift down to 15th, winning only six of their final 24 league games. This summer feels different, though. Recruitment has been more ambitious, Stéphan has committed his future to the club with a new contract, and there appears to be genuine continuity around the project. There is also considerably more depth, meaning injuries to one or two important players should not be quite as catastrophic as they were at various points last season. The first test, however, will be a difficult one. What To Expect From Portsmouth Rangers have not exactly enjoyed playing Portsmouth since Pompey’s return to the Championship. John Mousinho’s side won both meetings during the 2024/25 campaign before last season’s game at Fratton Park ended in a 1-1 draw, with Jimmy Dunne cancelling out Terry Devlin’s opener. That frustrating run finally came to an emphatic end at Loftus Road in March, when QPR dismantled Portsmouth 6-1 in one of the most remarkable performances of the season. Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli both scored twice before Richard Kone added two penalties late on, although the scoreline was arguably slightly misleading given Portsmouth had almost 60% possession and created opportunities of their own. The contrast between their dominance of the ball and their vulnerability in transition was striking, and it remains one of the biggest areas QPR could look to exploit again. That defeat appeared to leave Portsmouth in serious trouble, having lost five of their previous six games, but Mousinho’s side once again demonstrated their ability to respond when their backs are against the wall. They lost only one of their final eight games, winning four, including impressive victories away at Middlesbrough and Millwall and a huge home win over Ipswich Town that ensured their survival. Their final position of 18th perhaps does not tell the full story of how difficult last season was at times. Portsmouth spent much of the campaign looking over their shoulders, with injuries to key attacking players and a lack of financial backing making life particularly difficult. There are concerns heading into this season that their difficult second season could catch up with them. The Championship is full of examples of sides surviving their first year after promotion before finding the following campaign considerably harder, and Portsmouth were fortunate to avoid becoming another example last season. Their biggest strength, however, may well be the man in the dugout. Mousinho has done an impressive job with limited resources and has understandably attracted interest elsewhere, including links with Bristol City earlier this summer. He is one of the best things about the club and few managers would have kept them in the division given the resources and players available to him, even if there have also been legitimate frustrations over certain tactical decisions and selections. Keeping him was therefore important. Portsmouth remain a side that can be extremely difficult to beat when they accept their limitations and play directly to their strengths, and last season’s late survival run demonstrated just how dangerous they can become when written off. There has at least been some investment this summer, most notably the £3m arrival of 6ft 6in Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic, while Rocco Shein and Abu Kamara have also joined to strengthen the squad, although replacing Andre Dozzell and potentially Terry Devlin would still leave Mousinho needing further reinforcements. Despite those additions, Portsmouth still look likely to be involved in another relegation battle, particularly with the Championship arguably stronger this season and their relatively limited budget making it difficult to build the depth required to pull away from trouble. The Verdict There is real optimism around QPR heading into this season, and understandably so. The goalkeeping problem has been addressed, the squad has been strengthened with genuine quality, key players are returning to fitness and Stéphan now has the security of a new contract to continue building his project. The unbeaten pre-season should be treated with the usual caution, but beating Fiorentina, putting seven past Bromley and competing strongly against last season’s third-placed Millwall side are encouraging signs. This feels like a squad with considerably more depth and, crucially, more solutions than the one that faded so badly during the second half of last season. Portsmouth will not make life easy. Mousinho has repeatedly shown that he can get more from his players than the sum of their parts, and his side proved last season that they are at their most dangerous when their backs are against the wall. QPR’s 6-1 victory should therefore mean very little once the whistle blows at Fratton Park. Even so, this is exactly the sort of fixture Rangers should approach believing they can win. With some winnable fixtures to follow, a positive result would provide the perfect platform for what could be a hugely important opening month.