[Football- England 'Championship'] 12.5/ 13:00 Norwich- Leeds

[Steve]

[Football- England 'Championship'] 12.5/ 13:00 Norwich- Leeds

The first semi-final clash of the Play-Off phase between both teams. Both teams lost their last league matches, yet retained 6th and 3rd place, respectively. Overall, Leeds collected 17 points more than their rival, but it doesn't matter now. This is a new hand in which everyone has an equal chance to play in this two-legged match. When the play-offs are held each year, the general consensus is that teams in form have the best chance of advancing, regardless of their final position. Leeds are hoping that won't be the case this year as Daniel Farke's side have lost four of their last six regular season games. Last weekend's 2-1 defeat at home to Southampton was the third consecutive match unwinnable at Elland Road. Farke's side's away form hasn't been much better lately. Although they beat Middlesbrough 3-4 in a seven-goal thriller at the Riverside Stadium, they lost to QPR 4-0 immediately afterwards. Since the international break, Leeds have kept just one clean sheet and conceded a total of 15 goals in eight games, not the achievement they would have expected before the trip to Norwich.

At the other end, although Norwich have drawn in their last two games at Carrow Road, they still boast one of the most impressive home records in English football. We have to go back to November 5 last year, when the Canaries lost at home for the last time, and the series of matches without defeat lasted for 15-100 matches. However, this is a team that has won only one of their last 5 Championship matches, winning 1-0 in Preston. David Wagner's team ended the regular season with a 1-0 defeat against Birmingham City, extending the streak of not scoring more than two points in one match to eight.
When it comes to direct clashes between the two teams this season, first Leeds defeated their rival away 2-3, making up for the two-goal deficit from the first half (2-0), and then in January they won at home 1-0. So Leeds won all the points against their opponent.

As for the squad, visiting manager Farke has confirmed that trio Liam Gibbs, Onel Hernandez and Ashley Barnes will miss Sunday's match at Carrow Road. Patrick Bamford was ruled out of both semi-final matches with a knee injury. Wagner will be able to field the same starting line-up for Norwich despite the defeat at St Andrew's. Archie Gray may return to the starting lineup at right back, which may turn out to be the only change.

To sum up - Norwich's form at home means that they pose a threat to everyone, especially to Leeds, which has recently been deprived of its spark. Even though the visitors won twice in the regular season, the play-off phase has its own rules. I'm betting on the hosts in this clash.

1X @1,70 1xbet

FT 0:0