Prediction: Leeds United to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
Leeds United and Norwich City will face each other in the second leg of the Championship playoff semi-finals this week. The first leg of the tie was held at Carrow Road this past weekend. It ended in a goalless draw. The second leg will be played at Elland Road and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Thursday.
Leeds United
Leeds United are one of the biggest clubs of England and have lofty ambitions of getting back to the Premier League. The West Yorkshire club got relegated to the Championship at the end of last season, and now they have a very good chance of getting promoted to the top flight of English football.
The Whites ended up third in the regular season in the Championship. Daniel Farke’s side ended up third with 90 points from 46 matches, six points behind second-placed Ipswich Town. Leeds played out a goalless draw with Norwich City away from home at Carrow Road in the first leg of the Championship playoff tie this past weekend.
Leeds will fancy their chances of winning the second leg. After all, the match is at Elland Road and is an evening kickoff, which means that the Leeds fans at the stadium will be in full voice.
Team News:
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is likely to line up his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Norwich City at Elland Road. Illan Meslier will be in goal for the home team and will have Sam Byram, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo in front of him in defence. Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev will be the two holding midfielders. Wilfried Gnonto, Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville will be the three attacking midfielders. Georginio Rutter will lead the line for the West Yorkshire club.
Norwich City
Not many expected Norwich City to do as well as they have done this season. The Canaries, who have played in the Premier League in recent seasons, ended up as low as 13th in the Championship table last season, and not many expected them to even challenge for the playoffs.
However, Norwich have defied the odds and could now really get back into the Premier League. David Wagner’s side ended the regular Championship season in sixth place with 73 points from 46 matches, three points ahead of Hull City, who finished seventh.
Norwich will be disappointed that they could not win the first leg of the Championship semi-final playoff tie against Leeds United at Carrow Road, but they will certainly not be giving up on their chance to register a win at Elland Road in the second leg.
Team News:
Norwich City are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Leeds United. Angus Gunn will be in goal for the home team and will have Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy, Ben Gibson and Dimitris Giannoulis in front of him in defence. Marcelino Nunez and Kenny McLean will be the two holding midfielders. Jon Rowe, Gabriel Sara and Borja Sainz will be the three attacking midfielders.Josh Sargent will lead the line for the Canaries.
Key Factors to Consider
- Crysencio Summerville has scored 20 goals and given 10 assists in 47 games in all competitions for Leeds United this campaign.
- Daniel James has scored 13 goals and given 8 assists in 44 games in all competitions for Leeds United this campaign.
- Josh Sargent has scored 16 goals and given 2 assists in 29 matches in all competitions for Norwich City this season.
- Gabriel Sara has scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists in 52 matches in all competitions for Norwich City this season.
- In the first leg at Carrow Road, Leeds United had 60.1% of the possession.
Conclusion
Norwich City are a good team, but Leeds United will have the advantage in the second leg at Elland Road. After all, the West Yorkshire club are a better side and also have home advantage. It is very likely that Leeds will win the game.
Prediction: Leeds United to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
