Leeds United will be keen to strengthen their grip on top spot in the EFL Championship when they take on Millwall.
Leeds United will be aiming to maintain their grip on the top spot in the Championship when they welcome Millwall to Elland Road on Wednesday. With the promotion race heating up, this fixture carries extra significance, particularly after Leeds’s shock defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Millwall have already gotten the better of Daniel Farke’s side twice this season, knocking them out of the FA Cup and winning the reverse league fixture. They now have a rare opportunity to complete the league double over the Whites for just the fourth time in their history.
Leeds’s 17-game unbeaten league run came to an abrupt halt on Sunday, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park against Portsmouth, with Colby Bishop scoring the only goal of the game. That unexpected setback has made the promotion race even tighter — Farke’s side remain top, but only on goal difference, with Sheffield United level on points and Burnley just two points behind.
However, Elland Road has been a fortress for Leeds United this season. They are currently on a 15-game unbeaten run at home in the Championship, winning 13 of those matches while scoring an impressive 40 goals during that stretch.
Furthermore, the Whites have found success against London-based teams in recent months, winning four of their last six matches against clubs from the capital — a sharp improvement from their previous record, where they managed just four wins in 26 meetings.
Historically, Millwall have struggled at Elland Road, with Leeds winning three straight home league games against the Lions and securing victory in eight of their last nine home clashes. However, Millwall have already beaten them twice this season, including a 2-0 FA Cup victory in January.
Millwall arrive at Elland Road seven points off the playoff places with ten games to go, meaning their hopes of reaching the top six remain slim but alive.
After a turbulent week, where the club’s fans were criticised for their behavior during their FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace, followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City, Alex Neil’s men produced a spirited comeback to beat Watford 2-1 at the weekend. Josh Coburn’s late winner ensured Millwall remained in the playoff hunt, even if the odds are against them.
The Lions have only had one stint in the top flight (between 1988 and 1990), but their two victories over Leeds this season show they are more than capable of upsetting the odds. A win here would be only the fourth time in history that Millwall have done the league double over 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 will once again be without Ethan Ampadu, as the Welsh international continues his recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined him for the last three matches. His absence has been a blow to Daniel Farke’s midfield, with Leeds struggling for control in recent games.
Similarly, Maximilian Wober is ruled out with a knee issue, further limiting defensive options. Up front, Patrick Bamford remains on the treatment table due to a hamstring injury sustained at the start of 2025, meaning Leeds will need to rely on alternative attacking options once again.
Leeds’s starting XI is set to look significantly different from the side that faced Millwall in the FA Cup defeat last month. Pascal Struijk was the only player who started in both the weekend defeat to Portsmouth and the cup loss to Millwall, emphasising the rotation and tactical adjustments Farke is likely to make for this crucial fixture.
Leeds United are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Illan Meslier retaining his place in goal. The back four will see Jayden Bogle at right-back, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk forming the central defensive partnership, while Junior Firpo takes up his usual role at left-back.
In midfield, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev will operate as the double pivot, tasked with protecting the defence and dictating the tempo of play. Further forward, Daniel James will feature on the right wing, with Brenden Aaronson playing in the central attacking midfield role and Crysencio Summerville on the left.
Leading the attack will be Joel Piroe, the Championship’s joint-top scorer, who will be looking to add to his goal tally and help Leeds United regain their momentum in the promotion race.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Millwall
Millwall remain without goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who will serve the third game of his six-match ban following his reckless kick on Jean-Philippe Mateta during their FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace. His absence continues to be a blow for the visitors, forcing them to rely on alternative goalkeeping options.
Additionally, Zak Lovelace has yet to feature for Millwall since his return from Rangers in January, while Duncan Watmore remains sidelined, having missed the last month due to injury.
Millwall’s injury woes extend further, as Ryan Leonard, Calum Scanlon, Camiel Neghli, and Macaulay Langstaff are all unavailable for selection. The club has tentatively pencilled in their first match after the international break as a potential return date for several of these players, meaning they will not be available for this crucial clash at Elland Road.
Millwall are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lukas Jensen starting in goal in the absence of Liam Roberts. The defensive line will feature Tristan Crama at right-back, while Japhet Tanganga and Jake Cooper form the centre-back pairing. Joe Bryan is expected to take up the left-back role.
In midfield, Casper De Norre and Billy Mitchell will operate as the double pivot, providing defensive coverage and looking to disrupt Leeds United’s attacking rhythm. Further forward, George Honeyman will be deployed on the right flank, with Luke Cundle playing in the central attacking midfield role and Femi Azeez providing creativity on the left wing.
Leading the attack will be Josh Coburn, who scored the winning goal against Watford at the weekend. His ability to hold up play and finish chances will be crucial if Millwall are to pull off another upset against Leeds this season.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jensen; Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; De Norre, Mitchell; Honeyman, Cundle, Azeez; Coburn
Key Stats
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Leeds United have dominated Millwall at Elland Road in recent years. The Whites have won each of their last three home league games against Millwall and have recorded eight victories in their last nine home matches against the Lions (L1).
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Millwall are chasing a rare league double over Leeds . After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, Millwall will be looking to complete a fourth league double over Leeds United, having previously achieved this in the 1987/88, 2009/10, and 2017/18 seasons.
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Leeds United have turned Elland Road into a fortress. They are unbeaten in their last 15 home league matches (W13 D2), scoring 40 goals in that time and taking the lead in 14 of those games.
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The Lions have won only one of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league matches (D2 L5), conceding 14 goals in that period.
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Leeds United have won four of their last six league matches against teams from London (L2), including their last three in a row at home. This is a major turnaround, as before this recent run, they had only won four of their previous 26 league games against sides from the capital (D4 L18).
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
Joel Piroe will be Leeds United’s key player to watch as they look to bounce back from their shock defeat to Portsmouth and maintain their place at the top of the Championship. The Dutch forward has been a consistent goal threat throughout the season, sitting among the league’s top scorers, and his clinical finishing will be crucial against a Millwall side that has already beaten Leeds twice this season.
Piroe thrives in high-pressure situations, and with Patrick Bamford still sidelined, he will be the main goal-scoring outlet for Daniel Farke’s side. His movement in and around the box, combined with his ability to drop deep and link up with midfielders, makes him a difficult player to mark.
At Elland Road, Piroe has been especially dangerous, benefiting from Leeds’ attacking dominance at home, where they have scored 40 goals in their last 15 league matches. Given Millwall’s struggles in midweek away fixtures, he will likely get plenty of opportunities to add to his goal tally. If Leeds are to regain their momentum in the promotion race, expect Piroe to be at the heart of their attacking efforts.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Millwall
Leeds will be desperate to bounce back from their loss to Portsmouth, and their impressive home form should give them confidence. Millwall, however, have proven to be a difficult opponent for them this season, and with playoff aspirations still alive, they will not go down without a fight.
The home side’s attacking power at Elland Road should give them the edge, but Millwall’s defensive resilience could make it a closer contest than expected. The Hard Tackle predicts a narrow 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.
