The richest game in football returns this weekend as Leeds United and Southampton head to Wembley for the Championship play-off final.
As a result of the revenue on offer next season for the winner, the contest is widely regarded as the most lucrative in the game.
Both sides are no strangers to Premier League football having only been relegated last year, but just one of them will return at the first time of asking.
Leeds narrowly missed out on automatic promotion, with Saints also being a consent force all season in fourth.
You can find all the latest Championship odds on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise, here’s everything you need to know about the big game.
Leeds v Southampton kick-off time
The Championship play-off final will take place at Wembley on Sunday, May 26 kicking off at 3pm
Leeds v Southampton previous results
Sunday’s game will be the 101st time the sides have faced each other.
Leeds: 48
Draw: 22
Southampton: 30
Leeds have won just one of the last five meetings between the two sides, with Southampton winning two and there being two draws.
May 4, 2024: Leeds 1-2 Southampton
September 30, 2023: Southampton 3-1 Leeds
February 25, 2023: Leeds 1-0 Southampton
August 13, 2022: Southampton 2-2 Leeds
April 2, 2022: Leeds 1-1 Southampton
Leeds v Southampton team news
Leeds are sweating on the fitness of forward Patrick Bamford, who is recovering from a knee injury and is unlikely to be risked from the start. Darko Gyabi and Pascal Struijk are definitely out.
Southampton winger Ryan Fraser was forced off in their semi-final clash with West Brom but should be fit to return at Wembley. Stuart Armstrong, Gavin Bazunu and Juan Larios are long-term absentees.
Leeds v Southampton prediction
James O’Rourke: Southampton have the highest average ball possession in the whole league but the two regular season meetings saw Leeds achieve a greater percentage on the day. That is one question to answer, as is what formation The Saints will play. It’s suspected they’ll go with the 3-5-2 system that’s made Russel Martin’s men more defensively secure, and remember, they have a bottom-half record based on goals conceded compared to Leeds, who are only second to champions Leicester in that category.
Therefore, this is anticipated to be a bit of a slow burner, at least until the flow of the game is determined. The first goal is absolutely pivotal and everyone saw in the first legs of the semi-finals how important that is. One suspects this first half will resemble something like those two 0-0 first legs.
Leeds v Southampton betting tips
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