EFL Championship Betting Preview – Leeds United

Whites to bounce back

Football Betting

EFL Championship Team Preview – Leeds United

Leeds United are many people’s favourites for promotion from the EFL Championship this season. After missing out in the play-offs last term, can the Yorkshire club make a return to the Premier League after a long absence? Marcelo Bielsa’s men are currently the bookies’ favourites to win the title, with bet365 offering 9/2. Will United be the top dogs in the second tier this year?

Who will win the Championship Title 2019/20?

Team
Leeds 9/2 7/2 9/2
Fulham 8/1 8/1 8/1
Cardiff 10/1 10/1 10/1
West Brom 12/1 10/1 10/1
Middlesbrough 14/1 14/1 12/1
Stoke 12/1 12/1 12/1
Derby 16/1 14/1 14/1
Huddersfield 20/1 14/1 16/1
Brentford 12/1 14/1 14/1
Sheff Wed 20/1 16/1 18/1

* (Betting Odds were taken from Bet365, Betvictor & Ladbrokes on July 15th, 2019 at 13:30 p.m.)

Leeds United to win the Championship Title 2019/20 at Ladbrokes

Can the Whites bounce back?

Leeds spent the majority of last season in and around the top two. However, after picking up just one point from their last four league games, United ended their Championship campaign in third spot. Bielsa’s boys were beaten by Wigan Athletic, Brentford and Ipswich Town in the latter weeks of the season to miss out on automatic promotion.

The Yorkshire side then went up against Frank Lampard and Derby County in the play-off semi-finals. A Kemar Roofe goal gave them a deserved 1-0 win at Pride Park in the first leg, but things went horribly wrong for Leeds in the second game at Elland Road.

 

Bristol C v Leeds
Bristol C21/10
Leeds13/10

Bet at bet365

 

Stuart Dallas gave the home side the lead midway through the first half, with Jack Marriott equalising for Derby just before half time. Leeds capitulated in the second period, as goals from Marriott, Mason Mount and Harry Wilson completely turned the tie on its head. The Rams went on to win 4-3 on aggregate to knock Leeds out.

The Elland Road outfit became instant favourites for promotion when Bielsa arrived last summer. They may have failed in their first attempt, but United will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship this time around.

15 years of hurt

15 long years have passed since Leeds were relegated from the Premier League back in 2004. Many managers have tried but ultimately failed to get this giant club back into the big time.

It’s been a tough decade or so for the Leeds supporters, who even saw their club drop down to the third tier of English football. However, for the first time in many years, they have a manager and team capable of pushing for promotion.

Several clubs have the same idea, though, with the likes of Fulham, Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City also among the favourites. Still, Leeds will fear no foe and they will back themselves to get the job done this season.

The Elland Road outfit became instant favourites for promotion when Bielsa arrived last summer. They may have failed in their first attempt, but United will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship this time around.

Arrivals and departures

The talented Jack Clarke has signed for Tottenham Hotspur, although the Premier League outfit have loaned him straight back. Meanwhile, a number of players have returned from loans.

Helder Costa, who ripped the Championship apart in his first season at Wolverhampton Wanderers a few years back, has made the move to Elland Road. The forward has moved on a loan before a permanent move next summer. Leeds have also signed Jack Harrison and Ben White on loans as well as Liam McCarron on a three-year permanent deal from Carlisle United.

Bielsa will be looking to bring in a few more faces before Leeds get their season underway with a trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

 

Key-Facts – Leeds United

  • Leeds have not been in the Premier League since 2004
  • United picked up just one point from their last four regular league games last term
  • Only promoted Sheff Utd and Norwich (both with 49) picked up more home points than Leeds (46) last season

 

How will they fare this season?

Like I touched on, Leeds are the favourites to win the league with the bookmakers. Bielsa tested the water in the Championship last season; now the Argentinian will be looking to kick on and seal promotion.

Leeds looked nailed on for promotion in the last few months and weeks of last season before a horrid run at the end put paid to their chances. The Yorkshiremen will not want to make the same mistake again.

Several clubs will have the same ambition, but Leeds look a good bet for promotion. At the time of writing, William Hill are offering 11/4 for United to finish in the top two. Meanwhile, BetVictor have Leeds priced at just 1/2 to make the play-offs for the second season running.

Leeds United Tips & Odds

To win the title at 9/2
To be promoted at 15/8
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on July 15th, 2019 at 13:30 p.m.)

Predicted finish

Leeds will without doubt be a real force in the Championship again under Bielsa. After losing out in the play-offs in agonising fashion last season, United will be desperate to put things right this time around. There are some top teams in England’s second tier with term, and Leeds are certainly one of them. I’m backing Bielsa’s troops to finish in first place.