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Leeds United will host Portsmouth at Elland Road in their EFL Championship campaign opener on Saturday. Leeds missed out on promotion last season, losing to Southampton in the playoffs final while the visitors are back in the Championship after a 12-year absence.
The hosts played just two open-to-public friendlies in the pre-season and in the second one, registered a 2-1 home win over Valencia, thanks to goals from Georginio Rutter and Mateo Joseph.
The visitors played five friendlies in the pre-season and after recording three consecutive wins, they were winless in the last two. In their final friendly, they suffered a 2-0 loss to Charlton Athletic earlier this month.
Leeds United vs Portsmouth Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have crossed paths 58 times in all competitions and have not since 2012. The hosts have the upper hand in these meetings with 23 wins. The visitors are not far behind with 18 wins and 17 games have ended in draws.
- The hosts are unbeaten in their last four meetings against the visitors, with three games ending in draws.
- The hosts kept clean sheets in their two meetings against the visitors in the 2011-12 Championship campaign while recording a home win and the away match ending in a goalless draw.
- Leeds United have just one win in their last four home games in the Championship, suffering two defeats and failing to score in two games in that period.
- Portsmouth are unbeaten in their last 10 competitive away games, keeping seven clean sheets.
- The visitors have just one win in their last nine away games in the Championship, failing to score in six games in that period.
- Interestingly, the two sides have met just four times in the Championship, with three games ending in draws.
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Leeds United vs Portsmouth Prediction
The Whites narrowly missed out on promotion while earning 90 points in the Championship last season. They will look to go all the way this season and will hope to get their 2024-25 campaign underway with a home win. Daniel Farke has a full-strength squad for this match and is likely to field a strong starting XI.
Pompey are back in the Championship after 12 years and nerves might get the better of them here. They have some absentees on account of injuries while new signing Josh Murphy is a doubt for the trip to Elland Road.
Considering Leeds' home advantage and the visitors' injury concerns, the hosts are expected to register a comfortable win.
Prediction: Leeds United 3-1 Portsmouth
Leeds United vs Portsmouth Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Leeds United to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Georginio Rutter to score or assist any time - Yes
