The Championship play-off final is often dubbed the “richest game in football” and rightly so. Whoever manages to win it will receive over £135 million and the opportunity to play in the world’s most competitive and well-known league- The Premier League. So to say the stakes are high here is an understatement.
Leeds United Team News
Daniel Farke and his Leeds side were in pole position to receive a direct promotion throughout the campaign, but a dip in form at the tail end of the season relegated them to the playoff phase. Yet, in the semi-finals Leeds were dominant and after a 0-0 draw in the first leg away to Norwich, The Whites secured a huge 4-0 in the second leg at home turf. But as far as play-offs go, Leeds will probably be wary of such games as their track record in such fixtures is not stellar at all with 3 losses in their previous 3 such games. Moreover, recent results have fluctuated for the team and are the main reason for Leeds’ participation in the play-offs in the first place.
Southampton Team News
On the other side, Southampton performed much like Leeds in the play-off semi-finals – a 0-0 draw at home and a 3-1 win propelled them to the final. What could be considered a surprise is the fact that it is The Saints’ first appearance in such a game. And much like Leeds, Southampton’s recent form has seen its fair share of ups and downs as the team were on a 3-game losing streak right at the end of the season. But that streak ended on the final day with a win against none other than Leeds themselves. If we follow the game trend of The Saints an improvement is on the horizon, but the factor of a final will also have to be taken into consideration as it can affect teams both positively and negatively.
Head-to-Head-Games
Southampton might have a psychological edge over Leeds in the final, as they managed to secure a league double over their opponents this season. What could be even more important is that it was on the last league day that The Saints won over Leeds 1-2 and condemned them to play-offs. But looking more broadly it can also be noted that Leeds have no victory over Southampton in any of their last 5 matches with them.
Leeds United- Southampton Betting Prediction
Considering the stakes this game carries with itself it will not be a surprise to see a more reserved version of both Leeds and Southampton here. The chance to play in the Premier League next season, along with over £135 million is on the line here, so caution is to be expected. This can be seen in previous Championship play-off finals as 10 of the last 11 such games featured under 2.5 goals in regular time. There is just too much on the line for any team to go gung-ho here. Hence why, my pick is for under 2.5 goals to be scored here.
Betting Tip: Under 2.5 Goals
Bookmaker: Sportsbet.io
Odds: 1.84
Sportsbet.io
Place your bet on Leeds United – Southampton at Sportsbet.io