The battle for promotion to the Premier League continues this week with the Championship play-off semi-final second legs playing out in midweek.
There are two second-leg play-off semi-finals taking place over two days. The first sees Leeds United host Norwich City at 8 pm BST on May 16 before Southampton take on West Brom at St Marys’ at 8 pm BST on Friday, May 17.
Leeds United head into Thursday’s clash as 8/13 favourites to pick up a win, while Norwich City can be backed at 9/2 to secure a win in 90 minutes at Elland Road.
Leeds vs Norwich
After a 0-0 draw at Norwich in the first-leg semi-final last weekend, it is still all to play for in Yorkshire this week.
Leeds United ended 2023/24 on a rather shocking run of form, with one win in five allowing Ipswich Town to climb above them into the final automatic promotion place.
However, the Whites are still heavy favourites to go on and win the play-offs. Leeds finished the normal season on 90 points, 17 clear of Norwich and on 10 more points than last season’s play-off winners, Luton Town. Leeds will also take solace in the fact that in the last 10 years, the 3rd-place team have gone on to win the play-offs four times - at least one more time than any other position.
As for Norwich, they go into Thursday’s game as heavy underdogs. The Canaries have previously enjoyed success in the play-offs, beating Middlesbrough in the final back in 2015 to clinch promotion to the Premier League. However, they finished 3rd in the league that season on 86 points.
This time around, Norwich earned just 73 points and their 6th-place finish was not confirmed until the final day of the normal 2023/24 Championship campaign. They also lost both of their previous meetings with Leeds in the league this term and now have to win at Elland Road to reach the final.
Leeds vs Norwich betting stats
Here are some key Leeds United and Norwich City stats to keep in mind as you prepare to make your selections ahead of the game:
- Leeds are unbeaten in each of their last five games against Norwich in all competitions (four wins & one draw), with this their second meeting in the Football League play-offs.
- Leeds have never won promotion via the Football League play-offs, with this their sixth appearance. They lost 4-3 on aggregate to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the 2018/19 semi-final in their most recent appearance.
- Since the second tier rebrand to the Championship in 2004, the team finishing third has won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs almost 50 per cent of the time (9/19).
- Both teams have scored in five of Norwich’s past eight away league games.
- Norwich have won just one of their last five Championship games.
- Leeds have conceded the first goal of the game in their previous four games.
Leeds vs Norwich Top Tip
- Crysencio Summerville has scored in 36 per cent of Championship games this season for Leeds.
Today’s Football Tips
There are no Championship fixtures today, but there are two Premier League games taking place, including Manchester United facing off with Newcastle United.
Newcastle United travel away from home to take on Manchester United on Wednesday evening, and we’ve got it covered with our bet builder of the day article, while for those of you looking to place an acca, we have our acca of the day lined up and ready to go.
This week’s best free bets and enhanced offers
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