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1 week ago
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Two of the favourites for promotion are set to lock horns at Elland Road on Saturday, when Leeds United host recently-relegated Burnley in a tasty-looking Championship battle.
The Whites appear to be back on track following a slight wobble during the opening fortnight of the campaign, whereas Burnley are fighting to get back to winning ways.
Match preview
© Imago
Failing in their quest for promotion to the Premier League last season - losing the playoff final at Wembley by a single goal to Southampton in May - Leeds United are on a mission to escape the Championship at the second attempt under the expert stewardship of Daniel Farke.
The Whites endured a lacklustre opening to the 2024-25 campaign, sharing the spoils with newly-promoted Portsmouth at Elland Road on the first weekend of the term, before a toothless attacking display resulted in a goalless draw at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion on August 17.
Since then, though, Leeds have recorded back-to-back two-goal successes in the second tier to put a positive spin on their first batch of Championship fixtures, winning a Yorkshire derby at Sheffield Wednesday and securing a routine 2-0 win over Tim Walter's Hull City at Elland Road.
One of only four sides who are yet to be defeated in the division, the Whites have collected a healthy tally of eight points from the opening four contests, meaning that Saturday's hosts currently occupying fourth position in the early standings, four points behind pacesetters Sunderland.
With stars of the 2023-24 term such as Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray all securing Premier League switches over the summer, Leeds will be relying on a new wave of attacking talent this season, including exciting wingers Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani.
© Reuters
Cantering to 101 points and the Championship title under the tutelage of Vincent Kompany during their last season at this level, Burnley are preparing for a much sterner test from the second tier this time around, with Scott Parker now the man tasked with taking the Lancashire club back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
After recording back-to-back victories over Luton Town and Cardiff City by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1 at the start of the term, the Clarets were brought down to the reality of second-tier existence before the international break, collecting just one point combined from matches against Sunderland and local rivals Blackburn Rovers.
A consistent goalscoring threat in the Premier League during 2023-24, South Africa international Lyle Foster netted his maiden goal of the Championship campaign against John Eustace's side, who managed to fight back for a share of the East Lancashire bragging rights courtesy of a wonderstrike from Andreas Weimann.
Heading towards a hectic September and October schedule following the first international break of the season, Burnley are sitting sixth in the Championship table, with three points at Elland Road on Saturday enough for the Clarets to leapfrog Leeds in the early rankings.
The majority of Burnley's summer business has been based around recruiting players who are proven at this level to complement the quality already within the squad, with John Egan, Zian Flemming and Josh Laurent all arriving at Turf Moor over the past two weeks.
Leeds United Championship form:
Leeds United form (all competitions):
Burnley Championship form:
Burnley form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Leeds remain without the services of summer arrival Isaac Schmidt, with the defender yet to make his debut for the club due to a thigh injury.
With the Swiss left-back targeting competitive action in late September, Junior Firpo will continue to hold down a spot on the left side of the defence relatively unchallenged.
After encouraging signs during the opening weeks of the campaign, Mateo Joseph netted his first goal in the victory over Hull and should retain his berth in the side this weekend.
Following a busy week of action in the UEFA Nations League with Wales, Ethan Ampadu will start alongside Bulgaria international Ilia Gruev in the Leeds engine room.
Burnley have a number of fitness concerns at centre-back ahead of a trip to Elland Road, with Hjalmar Ekdal, Jordan Beyer and Maxime Esteve all set to miss out.
Battling back from a calf strain, loan signing Flemming is unable to make his debut for the promotion-chasing Clarets until the end of the month.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Ampadu, Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Joseph
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Worrall, Egan-Riley, Pires; Anthony, Laurent, Brownhill, Koleosho, Hannibal; Foster
We say: Leeds United 2-1 Burnley
Since the opening two matches, Leeds have looked like genuine top-two contenders and will be confident of recording a third straight win at Elland Road this weekend.
Burnley are not as strong as there were when they destroyed this division under Kompany, so we are expecting a narrow defeat for Parker's troops against a promotional rival.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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