Richest Match in Soccer Takes Center Stage
Leeds United vs Southampton Betting Preview: Winner Promoted to EPL
EFL Championship Promotion Play-Offs Final at Wembley
The annual “Richest Match in Soccer” is on Sunday as Leeds United take on Southampton in the EFL Championship Promotion Play-offs Final. The winner will be in line for a massive payday as they earn promotion to the 2024-25 Premier League. Both Leeds and Southampton have spent just one season back down in the second tier of English soccer and they’ll battle it out at London’s famed Wembley Stadium on Sunday to go back up. In our Leeds United vs Southampton betting preview, we’ll look at recent results, head-to-head history, the odds and more.
Leeds United vs Southampton
Date & Time: Sunday, May 26th, 10:00 a.m. ET
Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Head-to-Head
Leeds United vs Southampton betting previews note these two teams and played on the last Matchday of the EFL Championship season.Southampton dashed Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion as they picked up a 2-1 win with goals from Adam Armstrong and Will Smallbone. In fact, the Saints won both EFL Championship games vs. Leeds this season, and Armstrong and Smallbone scored in each one. Southampton have lost just one of their last six matches vs Leeds, with a 3-2-1 record.
Leeds Blow Norwich City Away
Leeds United went 27-9-10 in the EFL Championship this season, which was good enough for third place. Following the conclusion of the season, LUFC took on Norwich City in the EFL Championship Play-offs Semifinal, and the first leg finished scoreless. At Elland Road, Leeds exploded for four goals and booked their place at Wembley Stadium. Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville all scored in the 4-0 second leg victory over Norwich.
Summerville has reached 20 goals for the campaign, in all competitions, and the winger should play a key role on Sunday. Daniel Farke’s side had the fourth-best offense and second-best defense in the EFL Championship this season but they conceded quite a few goals toward the end of the campaign.
Leeds conceded nine times in the last three matches of the regular season and that ultimately cost them automatic promotion. Defender Pascal Struijk had season ending groin surgery in March and they haven’t been the same since. Striker Patrick Bamford, who scored eight times this campaign, is also a doubt for Sunday’s match.
Southampton
Southampton finished in last place in the Premier League last season but have a chance to go right back up, regardless. The Saints finished in fourth place in the EFL Championship Table, with a 26-9-11 record. They were paired with West Brom in the Play-offs Semifinal and the first leg finished scoreless at the Hawthorns. Back at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton won the second leg 3-1 as Adam Armstrong scored twice.
Armstrong was Southampton’s most productive offensive player this season, with 21 goals and 13 assists. Southampton qualified for the Promotion Play-offs on the back of an excellent offense. They scored 87 goals in 46 games, which ranked third in the league. However, they also conceded 63 times and have conceded in five of their last six games, in all competitions.
Starting goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu went down with an achilles tendon injury in mid April and Alex McCarthy has played in his place since. McCarthy has done a solid job, with over three saves per game since Bazunu went down. Che Adams, who scored 16 Championship goals this season, has missed the last couple of matches with a calf strain. Soton coach Russell Martin has said that Adams is in contention for Sunday’s match, though.
Match Analysis & Odds
Leeds United vs Southampton Betting Previews note that two of the last four Promotion Play-offs Finals have gone into extra time. Last season Luton Town took down Coventry City in penalties. Here, a draw comes in at +235 odds. Notably, Leeds have failed to earn promotion in their last five Play-offs appearances
The odds on the EFL Championship price Leeds at -150 odds to earn promotion despite winning just two of their last seven matches. Southampton will feel disrespected by these odds, given they beat Leeds at Elland Road in a consequential match just a few weeks ago. The Saints are +210 moneyline underdogs while they show +120 odds to play in the Premier League next season.
It should be a boost for Southampton to have Adams back and Armstrong has scored three goals in two games vs. Leeds this season. Leeds are +135 moneyline favorites here, while Leeds pk, -0.5 displays -115 odds. Southampton pk, +0.5 is priced at -115 as well and both teams are 3-2-3 in this fixture over the past decade. None of the last 12 EFL Championship Play-offs Finals have finished with more than three goals as both over and under 2.5 goals sit at -115 odds for this one. It’s certainly difficult to beat a team three times in one season and the odds reflect that. This is one that could go either way as both teams fight relentlessly for promotion back to the EPL.
