Big Match Breakdown: Leeds United v Middlesbrough

Odds and tips ahead of Championship clash

Friday night sees a Championship cracker at Elland Road, as the league’s top two face off under the floodlights.

Leeds United and Middlesbrough are both on 13 points, three clear of the play-off pack. And prior clashes between the pair suggest it will be a hotly-contested affair.

Ahead of this Yorkshire derby, the Coral News Team have all the odds and info in another Big Match Breakdown…

Head-to-Head

There’s not been much between these sides over history. The pair have met 97 times in total, with Leeds edging it by 38 wins to 32.

Last season’s two meetings ended with one win apiece. The Whites won 2-1 at Elland Road, before Boro won an unusually one-sided game 3-0 at The Riverside in March 2018.

Likely XIs

Marcelo Bielsa is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 system which has worked well so far. But Kemar Roofe could move to the right flank to accommodate Patrick Bamford as the lone striker.

Boro have had some joy with a 3-5-2 of late, and could go that way again. Everton loanee Mo Besic is likely to sit deep in a five-man midfield, with George Friend and Ryan Shotton doing the legwork out wide.

Key Battles

Leeds have been breathtaking on the counter-attack under Bielsa. Boro’s wide men will have to be at their energetic, combative best if they’re to have any chance of keeping Roofe and Macedonian international Ezgjan Alioski quiet.