Leeds United will aim to close the gap to the top spot in the EFL Championship when they travel to Wales to play Cardiff City on Saturday.
Both Cardiff City and Leeds United will be aiming to bounce back from recent defeats when they clash in the EFL Championship at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday. The hosts are in desperate need of a first league win, while Leeds will be looking to reignite their promotion campaign after a stumble last weekend.
Cardiff City return to action in search of their first victory of the Championship season, having endured a poor start under the management of Erol Bulut. Despite finishing a respectable 12th last term, the Bluebirds have struggled to build any momentum in the new campaign. They find themselves bottom of the table with just a single point from five outings.
The Welsh side kicked off the season with disappointing defeats to Sunderland and Burnley, before earning a draw in the South Wales Derby against Swansea City. Since then, they have suffered back-to-back losses against Middlesbrough and Derby County, scoring just once and conceding three goals. This lack of attacking threat, combined with defensive frailties, has put pressure on Bulut to deliver results quickly.
Cardiff City will need to tighten up defensively and find a way to get their attack firing if they are to climb out of the relegation zone. With their only goal this season coming from Callum Robinson, the Bluebirds need their attacking players to step up and deliver in front of their home fans.
Leeds United’s unbeaten start to the Championship campaign came to an end last weekend as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley. Daniel Farke’s side will be eager to bounce back and reassert their position as promotion contenders.
The Whites began the season with draws against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion before finding their rhythm with successive 2-0 victories over Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday. However, their loss to Burnley highlighted some frailties in their defence and an inability to convert chances.
Despite the setback, Leeds remain a strong force in the division and will be confident of getting back to winning ways. With the likes of Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph leading the line, supported by the creative talents of Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James, Leeds possess plenty of attacking firepower capable of troubling any defense in the league. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Cardiff City
Cardiff City could see several changes to their lineup as manager Erol Bulut looks to shake things up and turn around their early-season struggles. However, the Bluebirds remain plagued by injuries, with Jamilu Collins, Kion Etete, Jesper Daland, Ryotaro Tsunoda, and Isaak Davies all ruled out.
These absences leave Bulut with limited options, particularly in defence and attack. Will Fish is expected to make his first start of the season, while Callum Robinson is also sidelined, further reducing the team’s attacking depth.
In the potential 4-2-3-1 formation, Ethan Horvath will likely continue in goal, supported by a back four comprising Will Fish at right-back, Dimitrios Goutas and Calum Chambers as the central defenders, and Joel Bagan on the left. Joe Ralls and Manolis Siopis are expected to anchor the midfield, providing a balance of defensive stability and ball progression.
Further up the pitch, Chris Willock and Rubin Colwill are set to occupy the wide areas, flanking Anwar El Ghazi, who will play in a more advanced central role behind the lone striker, Wilfried Kanga. This attacking quartet will need to be in sync to break down Leeds United’s defence and create scoring opportunities.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Horvath; Fish, Goutas, Chambers, Bagan; Ralls, Siopis; El Ghazi, Colwill, Willock; Kanga
Leeds United
Leeds United will be without key defender Joe Rodon for their trip to Cardiff City on Saturday as he recovers from a head injury sustained during last week’s loss to Burnley. Additionally, there are doubts over the availability of winger Daniel James, who has missed the last two matches due to injury concerns and could be absent once again. These setbacks will force manager Daniel Farke to make adjustments to his lineup, particularly in defence and midfield.
In Leeds United’s probable 4-2-3-1 formation, Illan Meslier is expected to start between the posts. The defensive line could see captain Ethan Ampadu dropping back to partner Pascal Struijk at the heart of the defence, with Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo occupying the right and left-back positions, respectively. This reshuffle will allow Ao Tanaka to join Ilia Gruev in the midfield pivot, offering stability and distribution in the centre of the park.
Further forward, the attacking trio of Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe, and Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon will look to support lone striker Mateo Joseph. Piroe, who usually plays as a forward, might be deployed in an advanced midfield role to provide an additional goal threat, while the pace and creativity of Gnonto and Solomon on the wings will be crucial in stretching Cardiff’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Tanaka; Gnonto, Piroe, Solomon; Joseph
Key Stats
- Cardiff City have lost just four of their 24 league games against Leeds United this century (W14 D6), and have scored 16 goals across the last seven meetings between these sides.
- Leeds United have won three of their last five away league games against Cardiff City (L2), despite winning just one of their prior 22 such matches across the top four tiers beforehand.
- Cardiff have lost five of their last six home league games (W1), including each of the last three; their last endured a longer such run in November 2021 (L6).
- Leeds United have already kept seven clean sheets away from home in the league in 2024 (excluding play-offs), last recording more in 2019 (9).
- Cardiff City find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Championship table this late into a season for just the second time ever since 2004/05, after losing their eighth game of the campaign 0-2 at home to Leeds United in September 2016.
Player to Watch
Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto has been a dynamic presence for Leeds United this season, showcasing his ability to influence games with his pace, skill, and creativity. The young forward has been instrumental in providing attacking impetus for the Whites, often linking up well with his teammates and creating scoring opportunities.
With his flair and direct style of play, Gnonto is poised to be a key player for Leeds in their quest to get back to winning ways against Cardiff City. His performance could be pivotal in breaking down a struggling Cardiff defence and securing crucial points on the road.
Prediction
Cardiff City 1-2 Leeds United
While Cardiff City are desperate for a win, Leeds United’s superior quality and attacking options should prove too much for the struggling Bluebirds. Expect a closely contested game, but Leeds’s firepower will likely be the deciding factor, securing them a valuable three points on the road.