Preview: Swansea City vs. Leeds United – prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to strengthen their case for a place in the top six, Swansea city will welcome the Premier League chase Leeds United to Swansea.com Stadium for a championship match on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans were denied a point ahead of the international break by a late Burnley winner, while the Whites enjoyed another routine success at Elland Road.

Match example

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After three consecutive mid-table finishes, Swansea City are on a mission to seriously challenge for the play-offs this time, with the Welsh head coach Luke Williams began to restore the club’s identity after an ill-fated period with Michael Duff been at the helm during the past period.

The Swans started the November schedule with back-to-back wins over newly promoted Oxford United and Watford, although the Welsh side failed to make it three on the spin on November 10, when extra time Jay Rodriguez penalty took all the points for Burnley at Turf Moor.

After a heartbreaking defeat ahead of the international break, Swansea currently occupy 11th place in the league Championship standings ahead this weekend, six points clear of Watford in the bottom of the play-off positions and just four points ahead of Cardiff City in the drop zone.

With twelve points from seven games, the Swans have done reasonably well at their South Wales base so far this season, but Williams’ troops will be looking for the net more often, with Sunday’s home side scoring just seven points on home ground – only West Bromwich Albion (2) and Portsmouth (6) have scored fewer at their respective bases.

The key to an upturn in Swansea’s attacking performances is likely to be graduating from the academy Liam Cullenwith the 25-year-old leading the club’s Golden Boot race, coming into this match on the back of a sensational display for Wales on Tuesday evening, contributing four goals in the defeat to Iceland.

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After heartbreak in last season’s Championship play-off final, Leeds United are doing their utmost to automatically secure a place in the Premier League at the second round of questioning Daniel Farkewho was forced to deal with the departure of a star player Crysencio Summerville during the summer.

The Whites collected a healthy six points from three second-tier games in November before the two-week break, with both their wins coming in front of a passionate Elland Road support who were crushing. Wayne Rooney‘s Plymouth Argyle 3-0 before putting a pair past Queens Park Rangers.

Leeds have been hugely impressive on home ground but will need to improve their away form if they are to pip the likes of Sheffield United and Sunderland to a top-two finish, with Sunday’s visitors winning just two of their seven Championship away games so far. .

Farke’s men are in fact enduring a four-match winless run during their second-tier travels, a spell that also includes the trip to the Black Cats on October 4 when an erratic goalkeeper blunder Illan Meslier gifted Regis Le Bris‘s men some of the points in the closing moments.

Back with his former employers this weekend, Joel Piroe is Leeds’ leading marksman so far, with six Championship hits, with the Dutchman looking to continue his impressive form against Swansea after scoring in both matches between the clubs in 2023-24.

Swansea City Championship form:

Leeds United Championship form:

Team news

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Swansea remain without the services of a goalkeeper Andy Vissermeaning the summer arrival Lawrence Vigouroux remains the unhindered option between the sticks.

The Swans have a pair of players who will not be seen until after the New Year Josh Ginnelly And Olivier Kuiper fighting back from Achilles tendon and foot injuries respectively.

Of Matt Grimes‘s usual partner-in-crime Jay Fulton on the sidelines, Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco reserves his place in the engine room for the hosts.

Leeds cannot call on the talents of the Wales international Ethan Ampaduwho suffered a knee injury in September and will not return to action until the end of January.

The Whites’ attacking options are limited due to injuries Joe Gelhardt (hip) and summery arrival Great Ramazaniwho had been signed to fill the Summerville-shaped hole in Farke’s side.

Possible starting line-up for Swansea City:
Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Grimes, Franco, Peart-Harris, Allen, Pereira; Cullen

Possible starting line-up for Leeds United:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Rothwell, Tanaka; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe

We say: Swansea City 0-1 Leeds United

Fresh from an international break, Leeds should pose a serious threat on the road in South Wales and should have enough to secure a rare away win.

That said, Swansea’s defense has been one of the best in the Championship in recent times, so we don’t expect the hosts to be blown away on Sunday afternoon.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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