Will Leeds also roll over Barnsley?
Few matchdays after the start of the season in the English top flight, there are a total of seven teams that have not conceded defeat in the Premier League so far. In the middle of them, surprisingly, is Leeds United. The Peacocks have actually won two of their last three league games, including the recent 3-0 win over Chelsea FC.
This week, the in-form team around head coach Jesse Marsch now faces the cup match against Barnsley FC. As expected, the hosts from Leeds are the clear favourites, as their cup opponents will be playing in League One, the third English league. For Leeds vs. Barnsley, betting odds of 1.26 are therefore offered for tip 1.
In contrast to the Leeds Peacocks, Barnsley FC have made a mixed start to the season in the league, losing three of their last five League One matches. Before the cup tie against Leeds, there was even a heavy defeat against Wycombe in the league, in which the Tykes’ box rang three times in total.
It would therefore be all the more surprising if, after the latest result in League One, they could pull off a surprise coup in the EFL Cup. Especially as the Tykes have not won a match against Leeds United since January 2017.
Leeds – Statistics & current form
Jesse Marsch and his side have made a stellar start to the season so far, sitting third in the Premier League after just three matchdays. The Peacocks have won two of their three league games so far, with only a win against Southampton eluding Leeds United. However, they recently won an impressive 3-0 against the Blues from London.
Marsch’s team thus remained unbeaten in the Premier League for the fifth time in a row. The last time Leeds lost a competitive match was in May 2022, and since then they have won three and drawn two. The attack has been particularly convincing, with ten goals scored in this period – an average of two goals per match.
Rodrigo in particular has played a major role in this. The Spaniard leads the internal goalscoring list with four goals and one assist and has even made a better start to the season than City striker Haaland. If Rodrigo is also used in the EFL Cup, a goal against Barnsley FC is also obvious.
Will the home record be extended against the Tykes?
Anyway, Leeds United go into their cup tie against Barnsley FC as clear favourites. The Peacocks have not lost a match against the Tykes at Elland Road since November 2011. Most recently, Leeds have even won three home matches in a row against Barnsley FC – the last time was in July 2020, when Leeds celebrated a 1-0 victory over the Tykes.
If that streak is extended against their upcoming opponents, Leeds can also improve on their recent record in the EFL Cup. In the last four seasons, the Peacocks have failed to impress in the League Cup and have been knocked out of the second round of the second most important cup competition on three occasions.
Five players are currently on Leeds United’s medical list and are therefore not available for the upcoming cup match. Marsch will be using the rotation machine for the match against Barnsley and will be sparing numerous players from the first team. How many reserves will ultimately be used remains uncertain for the time being.
Predicted Leeds line-up:
Klaesson; Drameh, Koch, Hjelde, Struijk; Forshaw, Klich; Summerville, Greenwood, Sinisterra; Gelhardt
Last matches played by Leeds:
Premier League
21/08/2022 – Leeds 3 – 0 Chelsea FC
13/08/2022 – Southampton 2 – 2 Leeds
06/08/2022 – Leeds 2 – 1 Wolverhampton
Club Friendlies
01/08/2022 – Leeds 6 – 2 Cagliari
22/07/2022 – Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Leeds
Barnsley – Statistics & current form
Barnsley FC have also made a false start in League One after relegation from the Championship. The mission of “re-promotion” looks rather unrealistic just a few matchdays after the start of the season, especially as Barnsley have already lost three of their five matches in the third English league.
Most recently, the Tykes were shown up by Wycombe. Against the third-weakest team in League One at the time, Barnsley FC suffered a home defeat in which the Reds scored three times. During the week, the third division club is now threatened with the next defensive debacle.
Not only because Barnsley recently suffered a bitter defeat in League One, but also because of their abysmal record against their upcoming opponents. Since January 2017, Barnsley have lost their last four matches against Leeds United. The Tykes even went scoreless in three of the four encounters.
How long can Barnsley defy the Leeds attack?
The key factor in the cup tie against Leeds will be the form of the back line on the day. Considering how weak the Tykes’ defence was against Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, it is likely to be only a matter of time before Barnsley FC ring the bell for the first time in their cup tie against Leeds.
In the Leeds vs Barnsley clash, the visitors’ record away from home is one of the factors in favour of a prediction. Barnsley have lost 13 out of 15 matches on foreign soil this season and across all competitions. Only against Hull and Middlesbrough did the Tykes prevail. The latter in the first round of the current EFL Cup.
Barnsley are in the second round of the English League Cup for only the third time in the last five years. On three occasions Barnsley have had to pull the plug in the first round of the cup. There is therefore little argument – especially after recent performances in the league – to back a Leeds vs Barnsley bet on the underdogs.
Predicted Barnsley line-up:
Collins; Andersen, McCarthy, Kitching; Williams, Wolfe, Hondermarck, Benson, Odour; Cole, Norwood
Last Barnsley games:
League One
20/08/2022 – Barnsley 0 – 3 Wycombe
17/08/2022 – Barnsley 3 – 0 Bristol Rovers
13/08/2022 – Derby 2 – 1 Barnsley
Carabao Cup
11/08/2022 – Middlesboro 0 – 1 Barnsley
League One
06/08/2022 – Barnsley 1 – 0 Cheltenham
Leeds – Barnsley Direct comparison / H2H balance
In the last 63 meetings between the two clubs, Leeds lead the head-to-head comparison against Barnsley with a record of 26-17-20. The Peacocks have actually won four matches in a row against the Tykes recently. The last time Leeds lost was in January 2017 and since then the Peacocks have won four in a row with a goal difference of 7-1.
It is quite possible that the winning streak will continue this time. Although in the last four matches, a prediction of over 2.5 goals has only paid off once, it is obvious to play the odds on a high-scoring match this time with Leeds vs Barnsley. Leeds have already warmed up against CFC last weekend, after all.
Leeds – Barnsley Tip
Leeds made a sensational start to the season and go into the second round of the League Cup in fine form. The Peacocks have recorded as many points as the defending champions from Manchester on the first three matchdays of the 2022/23 Premier League. On top of that, they even won their most recent home game against Chelsea 3-0.
Despite a possible rotation in the cup match against Barnsley FC, we therefore think it is obvious that the current winning streak will continue. With the current squad, even a Peacocks second string should still have enough quality to knock the visitors from Barnsley out of the competition.
We expect a high-scoring encounter on Wednesday night, with the Leeds Peacocks looking to establish a clear balance of power before the break. Already against Chelsea last week Leeds had scored two goals in the first half. For Leeds vs. Barnsley we dare a prediction of over 1.5 goals in the first half.
