Leeds United will aim to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table on Saturday, when they welcome Cardiff City to Elland Road.
The hosts currently sit two points clear at the summit in the midst of an 11-match league unbeaten run, while their visitors have moved four points above the drop zone thanks to an unbeaten streak of their own.
Match preview
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Leeds United head into the weekend aiming to extend an unbeaten run and bounce back to winning ways in the Championship promotion race, having maintained a slender lead at the top of the table.
Of the Whites' three league defeats so far this campaign, their most recent came away at Blackburn Rovers in late November, and they have since picked up seven victories and four draws, albeit with only two of those wins coming in their last five attempts.
Following three straight triumphs to end 2024, Daniel Farke's side had to settle for draws against Blackburn and Hull City, before picking up comfortable 3-0 and 2-0 home victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City respectively in January, strengthening the division's best home record having now won 38 points from their 15 matches at Elland Road.
A tough trip to fellow promotion-chasers Burnley then followed on Monday, and the Yorkshire outfit maintained top spot as the contest ended goalless at Turf Moor.
Now leading second-placed Sheffield United by two points, Burnley by three and Sunderland by five, Leeds United will aim to continue their fine home form, having scored 35 goals and only conceded seven in those 15 matches in West Yorkshire, and further strengthen their position as frontrunners with a victory on Saturday.
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They face a tough test, though, as their visitors are also enjoying an impressive run in their own battle at the other end of the division.
Cardiff City endured a tough first half to the Championship campaign across spells under the management of Erol Bulut and Omer Riza, who took charge for the remainder of the season in late September, as they sat on just 18 points from 22 outings following a Boxing Day defeat.
That loss was the Bluebirds' 12th of the season in the league and extended a nine-match winless run, but they have since gone unbeaten in their last seven attempts, winning three of those and drawing four.
The second of those three-point hauls came in a 3-0 beating of South Wales rivals Swansea City in mid-January, and after drawing 2-2 away at Millwall thanks to a late Yousef Salech leveller, Riza's side most recently hosted Derby County and picked up a 2-1 victory thanks to second-half goals from Callum Robinson and Anwar El Ghazi.
That latest triumph saw the Bluebirds move four points clear of 22nd-placed Derby and up to 18th spot in England's second tier, and they will now bid to further extend that cushion in their toughest test of the campaign thus far away at the league leaders.
Team News
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Daniel Farke should field a similar Leeds United starting XI from Monday's draw against Burnley at the weekend, with captain Ethan Ampadu continuing to join Joe Rodon in the middle of the defence in the absence of the injured Pascal Struijk.
Ilia Gruev earned a first start since his long injury layoff in that game and should again get the nod over Joe Rothwell to join Ao Tanaka in the midfield, while Sam Byram has been preferred over Junior Firpo at left-back in recent weeks.
Joel Piroe, who leads the squad with 10 goals so far this season, should continue to lead the line, while Daniel James, Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon will hope to continue in a supporting trio despite competition from Largie Ramazani and Willy Gnonto.
Erol Bulut could also field an unchanged Cardiff City starting XI from last weekend's victory, with Aaron Ramsey, David Turnbull and Ollie Tanner remaining confined to the treatment room.
New signing Sivert Mannsverk will hope to earn a debut in the midfield, but Bulut may stick with Calum Chambers alongside captain Joe Ralls in front of the back four.
Their line will be led by Callum Robinson, who netted his 11th league goal of the season in the win over Derby, while Anwar El Ghazi will hope to earn a start in support, having scored off the bench in that game after Cian Ashford, Alex Robertson and Chris Willock were preferred from the start behind the lone striker.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Byram; Tanaka, Gruev; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Anwick; Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, Ng; Ralls, Chambers; El Ghazi, Robertson, Willock; Robinson
We say: Leeds United 2-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff City do head into the weekend with renewed confidence and momentum, but few sides have managed to compete at Elland Road this season, and we back Leeds United to again show their superior quality at both ends of the pitch.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
