Leeds United looked the real deal up until February 2019, leading the Championship table with their attractive, attacking style of play under charismatic manager Marcelo Bielsa, but a string of poor performances in April, where they lost 4 of their 7 matches, resulted in them falling to third in the Championship table, and denied of an automatic promotion spot.
Bielsa’s side eventually finished third in the table, 6 points behind second-placed Sheffield United, and will have to play Derby County in the semi-finals of the Championship Playoffs. Derby and Leeds have a bitter rivalry after the Spygate shenanigans that happened earlier this year and the game will surely have an extra sting in it. Leeds will play the first leg of the Championship Playoffs away from home on Saturday, while the return leg at Elland Road will take place on Wednesday night.
Let’s take a look at Leeds United’s predicted lineup for their key first leg encounter against Derby County
Goalkeeper
January signing Kiko Casilla will continue to man the goalpost for Leeds in the Championship Playoffs match. Since signing for Leeds in January 2019, the former Real Madrid player has played in 17 matches in the Championship.
Defence
The big concern for Leeds United going into the game is the fitness of influential central defender Pontus Jansson, who has a sore foot but is desperate to play in the game, and even joked that he will play in a wheelchair if he has to. He will start alongside Liam Cooper at the heart of the defence. If Jansson is not fit, Kalvin Phillips could play at centre-back, while the underused Gaetano Berardi is another option.
Left-back Barry Douglas is still out with an injury, but Stuart Dallas has been declared fit and he will start at left-back for Leeds United.
The ever-dependable Luke Ayling will start the game at right-back.
Midfield
Kalvin Phillips will play at the base of the midfield, flanked by Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich, who has scored 10 goals in the Championship. 20-year-old Tyler Roberts has been ruled out of the game which means that Bielsa will probably play Adam Forshaw in midfield, while wide players Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison will play on the right and left, respectively.
Attack
14-goal striker Kemar Roofe will lead the line for Leeds United against Derby County as Patrick Bamford is serving the last of his two-game ban.
