Leeds want to prove their own class in the decider
The deciders in the FA Cup are on the agenda and Leeds United close it out at home to Cardiff. A Leeds vs Cardiff prediction based on the omens is relatively easy, as the hosts have many advantages. If it wasn’t for their recent form and first game.
Leeds have individual advantages and accordingly, combined with home advantage, are clear favourites. However, the home side must also bring their qualities onto the pitch, otherwise it will be difficult to prevail in this match. Cardiff, at least, should not be underestimated.
Before the game, there are signs that both teams could do with a sense of achievement, as the next few weeks will not be any easier. At Leeds, there are already voices calling for a closer look at the future of coach Jesse Marsch. So the goal should be clear.
Leeds – Statistics & current form
Things are not going according to plan for Leeds United and Jesse Marsch at the moment. The team is playing decent football at times, making their mark in the pressing, but failing to get the results in. Having to play against a team like Cardiff in the decider is also not in line with Leeds’ expectations. Accordingly, a convincing win against the Welsh side would now be important, especially as advancing in the cup also brings financial advantages.
Leeds United recently signed Georginio Rutter from TSG Hoffenheim. The Frenchman, who could be an early help, costs up to 40 million euros. The attack has not been consistently dangerous enough, as it was in the recent 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa. Leeds are in the lower midfield of the Premier League with 17 points from 18 games, and the relegation zone is not far away.
One factor that could become a problem is the dependence on Rodrigo. He has scored ten goals in the league so far, the second highest scorer has four goals, no one else gets more than two. Rutter could be a great addition at this point too. How urgently Leeds need new impulses is also shown by the balance sheets of the last few weeks. The hosts have not been able to win any of their last seven matches in the competition.
Leeds: Defensively there is also room for improvement
33 goals conceded by Leeds in the Premier League so far, which makes it clear that it is not only offensively that there is sometimes something lacking. The Marsch team must become more stable defensively, too often the team has individual lapses. These also have to do with the system of play, because Leeds starts high and risks a lot in the pressing. As a result, the opponents tend to catch the team in a more disorderly situation.
In only one of their last eleven league games have Leeds United managed to go without conceding a goal, which underpins the problem. After all, not only do the goal conceded statistics look better at home than away, they also manage to pick up more than twice as many points. That could be very important for a game in which the home side already has some advantages.
Because the visitors also have problems defensively, our prediction before the Leeds vs Cardiff game is that more than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted Leeds line-up:
Meslier – Kristensen, Struijk, Koch, Firpo – Adams, Roca, Aaronson, Harrison, Summerville – Rodrigo
Last matches played by Leeds:
Premier League
14/01/2023 – Aston Villa 2 – 1 Leeds
FA Cup
08/01/2023 – Cardiff 2 – 2 Leeds
Premier League
05/01/2023 – Leeds 2 – 2 West Ham
31/12/2022 – Newcastle 0 – 0 Leeds
29/12/2022 – Leeds 1 – 3 Manchester City
Cardiff – Statistics & current form
Cardiff City and manager Mark Hudson had expected more from this season. The team plays in the Championship, the second English league, and certainly has its problems. At the weekend they drew 1-1 at home against Wigan Athletic, once again making too little of their own chances.
Curiously, five of the last six games in the league ended in a draw. But that didn’t help the team, which is currently in 21st place, much. Wins are needed, and the last one came in November before the World Cup break. That makes seven league games without a win of their own, plus the game against Leeds, which ended 2-2. So the form can be described as average at best.
Defensively, things have actually gone quite well during this period, with only eight goals conceded in the last eight competitive games, but offensively, Cardiff City have only managed to score more than once, going four times without a goal of their own during this period.
Cardiff: Without offensive power it will be difficult
The attacking department is a concern anyway. 21 goals scored by Cardiff in 27 games so far, this balance reads clearly too weak. In addition, there is a problem away from home, because Cardiff get less points away from home than at home, they have already lost seven times away from home. The team also concedes more goals away from home, 50% more than at home.
This once again changes the odds in favour of the hosts. Leeds have many advantages over Cardiff and will be looking to exploit them. The only point in Cardiff’s favour: Leeds are also unsettled and have more pressure due to being favourites. Without relief, it will be very difficult for the guests in any case. Therefore, before the match Leeds vs Cardiff, our value tip is also that the hosts will win with more than one goal difference.
Predicted Cardiff line-up:
Allsop – Sang, Nelson, Simpson; O’Dowda – Ralls, Wintle, Rinomhota, Ojo, Philogene – Davies
Last Cardiff games:
Championship
14/01/2023 – Cardiff 1 – 1 Wigan
FA Cup
08/01/2023 – Cardiff 2 – 2 Leeds
Championship
01/01/2023 – Blackburn 1 – 0 Cardiff
30/12/2022 – Coventry 0 – 0 Cardiff
26/12/2022 – Cardiff 0 – 0 Queens Park Rangers
Leeds – Cardiff Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
61 direct duels have taken place between the two teams, with Cardiff winning 29 of them! Leeds have been victorious 17 times and the two teams have shared the points in 15 duels. The last time they saw each other was in the 2019/20 Championship, when Cardiff picked up four of the six possible points.
Leeds – Cardiff Tip
Leeds have individual advantages, of course, and play a league higher than Cardiff. But the hosts cannot be said to be very safe at the moment. The team is too vulnerable in defence. Cardiff, on the other hand, are shaky in their forward play.
Because the home side should dominate and also have the quality to work on a much weaker opponent, our tip before the Leeds vs Cardiff game is that more than 2.5 goals will be scored.
