Leeds United vs Bournemouth – Preview, Lineups, Score Prediction | OneFootball

Leeds United are set to welcome fourth-placed Bournemouth to Elland Road in the Premier League, with both teams brimming with confidence after defying early season expectations.

Both clubs had their midweek free on their calendars, having been eliminated in the second round of the EFL Cup.

Leeds have been a surprise package, amidst a wider theme among the promoted teams, with the grit and ability to squeeze out points more astounding than their performances and the underlying statistics.

They won 3-1 at Wolves last weekend, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked out for real praise by Daniel Farke, while defender Pascal Struijk admitted Leeds’ summer signings have brought real maturity to the side.

Farke’s men came back from an early Wolves goal to score three unopposed goals despite possessing a xG of 0.4 to their opponents’ 1 xG at half-time.

In scoring the goals, Leeds’ first since the opening day and their first goals from open-play for the season, the Whites displayed a cold and clinical ability to eke out results that has come to characterise their season so far, with the game finishing in finishing in Leeds’ favour despite Wolves bossing possession and winning 1.61 to 0.49 on xG.

Five games is not a large sample size but is also not so small a sample that it can be completely ignored with nebulous trends coalescing gradually into a fuzzy equilibrium, around which results oscillate for the season.

Bournemouth, like Leeds, have stupefied observers and in some ways, it can be argued that they are the bigger surprise than their upcoming opponents, leading Farke to warn the Whites must be at their best.

The Cherries lost almost their entire backline over the summer, with bigger clubs picking off Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez to strengthen their own defences.

Despite this, Bournemouth have not missed a beat and the new look backline have played like an orchestra in sync with each other.

It is also not that Bournemouth have had a easy run of fixtures; after losing to Liverpool on the opening day to late goals, they have travelled to Tottenham and hosted Brighton, Newcastle and Wolves.

What is more commendable is that beyond the game at Anfield, where they shipped four goals, Bournemouth have conceded only once, when Kaoru Mitoma scored for Brighton.

Bournemouth, after the start, will be pleased that they managed to hang on to their key man in Andoni Iraola, with rumours linking him to the manager’s hot seat at Real Madrid and Tottenham last season, and believe that as long as they are able to hold onto him, they can produce many more Huijsens, Zabarnyis and Kerkezes.

Recent Form (league)

Leeds United: WLDLW Bournemouth: DWWWL

Key Men

Leeds United

Anton Stach not only scored a brilliant free-kick last weekend, but was also finally rewarded with an assist for Okafor’s Wolves goal for all the chances he has created over the course of the season.

Noah Okafor made the most dribbles in the Premier League this season, with 14 against Wolves, and more of the same will be required to test a strong Bournemouth defence.

Daniel Farke will be tempted to tinker with his starting line-up, to bring in Ao Tanaka for Sean Longstaff as an example, but is likely to plump for the winning combination.

Bournemouth

Antoine Semenyo has starred with three goals in the Premier League so far and will want to carry on his fine form that stretches over this season and last.

Tyler Adams will be keen to impress, back at Elland Road.

Andoni Iraola has to decide if to take the attack to Leeds from the off, or to bide his time and consider his options later on in the game after taking stock of the situation.

Match Prediction

Leeds have won all of their last four meetings at home against Bournemouth, but this game is far from a foregone conclusion.

Bournemouth are the stronger team and if anything, are more likely to come away from the clash with all three points.

Leeds might play with more freedom and assuredness after they ended their open-play goal drought against Wolves and in the process, also ended their wretched away form.

It is unlikely to be enough to unlock the Cherries defence though and Leeds might have to concentrate on defending first.

Unless a moment of individual brilliance, from say, for example, Semenyo or Okafor, occurs or an individual brain fade like Gudmunsson’s at Fulham transpires, it is likely to be a case of resolute defences cancelling each other out.

Inside Futbol Score Prediction

Leeds United 0-0 Bournemouth

Where To Watch?

Leeds United vs Bournemouth will not be broadcast live in the UK, but can be followed via audio commentary at each club’s respective website.