The north is on fire

The betting odds, the media and, above all, the fans are excited about the clash between Leeds and Sunderland. In the cradle of soccer, these rivalries have been going on for more than a century. The positions of power are constantly shifting. At present, the whites are favored

The upcoming duel also serves to illustrate the sometimes enormous financial differences in the league. While the hosts are helped by the parachute bonus following their relegation from the Premier League, Sunderland have struggled to climb back up the league tree. So the starting position is quite clear

This gap is also quite clear in the table. After the last five matches, the score is 10:5 on points. 34 of them also separate the opponents in the live view.

It is therefore no great surprise that a relatively clear outcome is expected here. What can also be counted on is the new customer bonus that Oddset is offering.

Leeds – Statistics & current form

The bookmakers’ forecast for Leeds and Sunderland is relatively clear. The main reason for this is the performance of the hosts. After a shaky start, they are a force at both ends of the pitch

The defense is in a class of its own

31 goals Leeds have conceded so far. This has happened over 40 match days. In the bone mill that is the EFL Championship, this is an outstanding figure. At the same time, they are an all-round success.

The men in white like to have the ball and keep it in their opponents’ half more often than not. They practice a certain handball principle. Quick and short passes keep the opponent away from the ball, meaning they can do little damage.

It is therefore no great surprise that the hosts are very careful with leads in particular. Once they are ahead, they rarely give it back. Although it is not advisable to place a bet on zero because the Championship is simply too strong, the odds of victory are good

Only Ipswich dominate the offensive power of Leeds

The fact that the men from Leeds have good odds to win and get promoted again is due not only to their defense but also to their offense. They have scored 76 goals so far. This is the absolute top figure behind Ipswich (84).

They have some talented ball thieves in their ranks and this often results in counter-attacking opportunities. These are then very likely to be completed. In general, they have very good odds when they get the ball in front of goal. Crysencio Summerville is the leader with 17 goals and eight assists.

Behind him, Daniel James (13+6), Joel Piroe (12+3) and Georginio Rutter (6+17) have more than enough firepower to make any EFL defense sweat. As a result, the odds on Leeds vs Sunderland are well presented.

Predicted Leeds line-up:

Sunderland – Statistics & current form

The Black Cats are playing a thoroughly serviceable season. After the struggles of the previous season, a mid-table finish is entirely appropriate.

Sunderland is an almost perfect description of mediocrity. After 41 matchdays, they are in 13th place (out of 24) with a goal difference of 51:50 and have thus achieved 15 wins and 19 defeats.

With five matchdays to go, they are ten points away from the relegation places and 15 points away from the play-off places. So, realistically speaking, there is relatively little at stake. This also seems to have dominated the games in recent weeks. There has only been one win in the past five rounds

The defeats against Leicester (0:1) and Southampton (2:4) in particular have noticeably pulled the plug. It was also clear from a purely playful point of view that the Premier League was simply too big. Now they will face another test against a promotion hopeful, but they are unlikely to play with any vigor

The playing system (unfortunately) suits Leeds well

What the predictions for Leeds and Sunderland also clearly show is how well the Red and Whites’ style of play suits the Whites’ game. They like to play quickly through the middle and try to get the ball in front of goal with set-pieces.

If they do get through, they find it difficult to convert. Most of the time, these balls get caught and then they counter-attack, which they defend very poorly. This is partly due to their positioning and partly due to their defensive tactics. As a collective, they stand well, but are picked off by individualists.

However, there are still plenty of them in the squads of former Premier League clubs. Sunderland could therefore be a perfect match for the hosts. Combined with making amends for the defeat at the weekend, it could well end up being a high-scoring affair if Leeds are to make amends.

Predicted Sunderland line-up:

Leeds – Sunderland head-to-head comparison / H2H record

However, the recent history of this clash clearly contradicts the odds announced for Leeds and Sunderland. In the last ten duels, there have been six wins for the Black Cats and only three for the Whites.

Whoever takes the 1:1 in this list will end up with 7:14 goals. The first leg also ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the men from Wearside. However, it is doubtful whether it will end that way again

Leeds – Sunderland tip

If it’s all down to paper form, then the hosts should keep the points at home. However, the same already applied to the first leg. Looking at the table, however, it is more than clear how big the difference in quality is. In that respect, there will probably be no further surprises

According to recent performances and the possibilities, Leeds will go down in the history books with tip 1 against Sunderland. The men from Elland Road are well on their way back to the top flight and have left little doubt in the recent past.