Leeds, England – As the Championship season nears its climax, Leeds United prepares to host Stoke City this Easter Monday at Elland Road, with promotion to the Premier League tantalizingly within reach.
The Whites only need to secure a victory against Stoke and hope Sheffield United does not win against Burnley on the same day. Leeds is currently hot on the heels of a playoff heartbreaker from last season, where they fell to Southampton at Wembley, and are now just one win away from redemption.
Coming off a hard-fought 1-0 win over Oxford United, where Tottenham loanee struck the crucial goal, Leeds boasts a remarkable seven-match winning streak, putting them at the top of the table, level on points with Burnley but five points clear of Sheffield United. Leeds fans are optimistic as the team aims to extend a 19-match unbeaten streak at home.
Head coach has been instrumental in this resurgence, having successfully led Norwich City to Championship titles in both 2019 and 2021. He brings invaluable experience to the team as they face Stoke, a side currently sitting mid-table and seven points above the relegation zone.
Stoke’s last match saw them secure a 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, aided by their formidable home support of nearly 30,000 fans. The Potters aim to improve from a subpar season with hopes of a top-half finish, currently lying just six points behind 12th-placed Watford. Coach Mark Robins is rallying his troops despite being the underdogs in this clash.
Ahead of the match, Stoke has battled injury woes, and it remains to be seen if key players like Enda Stevens and Jordan Thompson will feature. Thompson was notably stretchered off last game, prompting concerns among fans.
For Leeds, they face a couple of injury concerns as well but remain confident with the likes of right-back who has been a vital contributor, and striker Patrick Bamford returning to form. The anticipated starting lineup for Leeds includes Darlow in goal and a solid backline, while Stoke may field Johansson as their goalkeeper with Tchamadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, and Thompson in defense.
Statistically, Leeds is set as the heavy favorites to secure the win, given their impressive form and the supercomputer predicts a 70.6% chance of victory for the home side, with Stoke sitting at merely 12.7% likelihood of pulling off an upset. This matchup highlights not just the stakes for Leeds but also underscores Stoke’s urgency to bolster their season against their tougher opponents.
As the tension mounts leading up to this critical matchup, fans from both clubs await the kickoff, with Leeds looking to end an arduous wait for a return to the Premier League.
