Leeds United will hope to pull away at the top of the EFL Championship standings when they take on Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.
Leeds United will look to continue their Championship dominance as they host Cardiff City at Elland Road on Saturday. Positioned at the summit of the table, Leeds aim to solidify their lead, while Cardiff arrives with an impressive unbeaten streak, eager to widen the gap from the relegation zone.
Leeds United are on an 11-match unbeaten streak, showcasing their resilience in the Championship promotion race. Their last league defeat came at Blackburn Rovers in late November, and since then, Daniel Farke’s side has recorded seven wins and four draws. However, their recent outings have seen mixed results, with just two wins in their last five games.
The Whites’ fortress at Elland Road has been instrumental in their success. With 38 points accrued from 15 home matches, Leeds boast the best home record in the division, scoring 35 goals while conceding just seven. January victories over Sheffield Wednesday (3-0) and Norwich City (2-0) further strengthened their dominance in West Yorkshire.
Leeds maintained their lead at the top with a goalless draw against fellow promotion contenders Burnley on Monday. Now sitting two points ahead of second-placed Sheffield United, Leeds will seek to capitalise on their fine home form to keep their promotion ambitions on track.
Cardiff City endured a challenging start to the season, plagued by inconsistency and managerial changes. By Boxing Day, they found themselves with just 18 points from 22 games, languishing near the relegation zone. However, under Omer Riza, the Bluebirds have shown remarkable improvement, embarking on a seven-match unbeaten run that includes three wins and four draws.
Key highlights of their resurgence include a 3-0 South Wales derby win over Swansea City and a dramatic 2-2 draw against Millwall, where Yousef Salech scored a late equaliser. Most recently, Cardiff secured a 2-1 victory over Derby County, with Callum Robinson and Anwar El Ghazi leading the charge. This form has lifted the Bluebirds to 18th place, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Saturday’s clash presents Cardiff with their toughest test yet as they face the league leaders. However, their newfound confidence and fighting spirit could make them a formidable challenge for Leeds. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is expected to field a similar lineup to the one that secured a draw against Burnley earlier this week while retaining the 4-2-3-1 formation
In the heart of the defence, captain Ethan Ampadu will continue to partner Joe Rodon as Pascal Struijk remains sidelined due to injury. Struijk’s absence has placed added responsibility on Ampadu and Rodon to maintain defensive stability. At left-back, Sam Byram has been preferred over Junior Firpo in recent weeks and is likely to retain his position, while Jayden Bogle is set to start at right-back. Illan Meslier will continue as the reliable figure between the posts for Leeds.
In midfield, Ilia Gruev, who made his first start after recovering from a long injury layoff against Burnley, is expected to retain his spot alongside Ao Tanaka. The duo will form a double pivot, tasked with both shielding the backline and initiating transitions. Gruev’s return has added depth and composure to Leeds’ midfield setup.
The attacking quartet will likely be led by Joel Piroe, Leeds’s top scorer this season with 10 goals. Piroe will operate as the lone striker, supported by a trio of Daniel James, Brenden Aaronson, and Manor Solomon. James is expected to provide pace and width on the right flank, while Solomon will offer creativity on the left. Aaronson, playing through the centre, will be responsible for linking play between midfield and attack. Despite competition from Largie Ramazani and Wilfried Gnonto, Farke is likely to stick with this proven trio for now.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Byram; Tanaka, Gruev; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Cardiff City
Omer Riza is expected to stick with the same starting XI that secured a crucial victory against Derby County last weekend. However, injuries continue to impact the squad, with experienced midfielder Aaron Ramsey, creative playmaker David Turnbull, and young winger Ollie Tanner all remaining unavailable. The absences of these key players will likely force Riza to rely on other midfield options, such as Calum Chambers and captain Joe Ralls, to provide stability and control in the centre of the park.
New signing Sivert Mannsverk is eager to make his debut, but Riza may opt to stick with the tried-and-tested partnership of Chambers and Ralls in midfield. In the attacking line, Callum Robinson is set to lead the line once again, having netted his 11th league goal of the season in the win against Derby.
The support for Robinson could come from Anwar El Ghazi, who made an impact as a substitute by scoring in the previous game. While El Ghazi is pushing for a starting role, Cian Ashford, Alex Robertson, and Chris Willock were preferred in the attacking midfield trio last time out and may continue in those roles.
Cardiff City are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jak Alnwick will start in goal, with a back four of Andy Rinomhota at right-back, Dimitrios Goutas and Jesper Daland as the centre-back pairing, and Perry Ng on the left.
The midfield pivot will consist of Joe Ralls and Calum Chambers, providing a balance of defensive solidity and distribution. In attack, Chris Willock will occupy the left-wing position, Alex Robertson will play as the central attacking midfielder, and Anwar El Ghazi is likely to start on the right. Callum Robinson will spearhead the attack as the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, Ng; Ralls, Chambers; El Ghazi, Robertson, Willock; Robinson
Key Stats
- Leeds United have won each of their last two league games against Cardiff City and will be aiming to achieve three consecutive victories against the Welsh side for the first time since September 2016.
- Cardiff City have lost just one of their last 13 away league games against Leeds United (W7 D5). The sole defeat at Elland Road came in November 2015, with a 1-0 scoreline.
- Leeds are unbeaten in their last 11 Championship matches (W7 D4). They have also managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last three games, replicating a defensive run they last achieved in January/February 2024, which spanned five consecutive shutouts.
- Cardiff have won just one of their last 16 away league games (D8 L7). However, they have managed to score exactly two goals in five of their last six away fixtures.
- Since the start of last season, Dan James has been directly involved in 23 goals in 33 league appearances at Elland Road (16 goals, seven assists). This is the most by any Leeds player during this period.
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
The Dutch striker has already amassed ten league goals this campaign, showcasing his ability to deliver in crucial moments. Piroe’s intelligence in positioning, combined with his knack for finding the back of the net, makes him a constant threat to opposing defences.
Operating as the focal point of Leeds United’s attacking lineup, Piroe thrives on service from the creative midfield trio behind him. His versatility allows him to score from various situations — whether it is a precise finish inside the box or a long-range effort. Against a Cardiff City defence that has shown vulnerabilities on the road, Piroe will be key in breaking through and capitalizing on chances.
With Leeds United looking to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table, much will depend on Piroe’s sharpness and ability to lead the line effectively. His presence is bound to keep Cardiff City’s defence on high alert throughout the match.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Cardiff City
Leeds United’s impeccable home form makes them the favourites heading into this clash. Their ability to score freely at Elland Road, combined with Cardiff’s ongoing defensive vulnerabilities, could tilt the scales in Leeds’s favour.
However, Cardiff’s recent form and knack for grinding out results mean they won’t go down without a fight. Expect Leeds to extend their lead at the top but not without a determined effort from Cardiff City to make it a closely contested affair. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.
