Premier League: Old Foes Leeds and Wolves Prepare to Do Battle

Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The weekend’s football finishes with a bang as new boys Leeds United prepare to take on the famous Gold shirts of Wolverhampton.

Before long this Premier League fixture, Leeds United vs Wolves is sure to have a familiar ring about it if Leeds’ early season form is anything to go by.

The Yorkshire giants have finally woken from their slumber and fans at Elland Road will be delighted to see them perched in eighth place after four games.

Meanwhile for the Wolves, who are a single point and five places back, could leapfrog the Whites with a victory.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves are into their third season back in the top-flight having thrived in the first two, earning Europa League football and looking as though they have never been away.

The Monday night fixture (UK time) is a mouthwatering prospect for neutrals to look forward to, and a great way to finish the weekend.

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Serie A

Talking Points

Leeds look at home back in the big time

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa guided Leeds United back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence and a painful period of toiling in the second and third tiers of English football.

With the caveat that these are early days, any doubts as to whether Leeds could cut it in the Premier League after such a long absence seem to have been dispelled to a degree.

Seven points from four games is an excellent start, especially as the only defeat came in a seven-goal thriller against Liverpool.

The champions beat Leeds 4-3 on the opening weekend but since then the Whites have had victories over strugglers Sheffield United and Fulham and a creditable draw with Manchester City.

The new boys looked like they’d be overrun by the Sky Blues as the league favourites swarmed forward at will, but Leeds came back in the second half and deservedly took a point in a 1-1 draw.

Bielsa has invested heavily in the summer, spending over £100-M and breaking a record transfer fee which stood for two decades, which includes the £18-M paid for Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno exceeding that shelled out for Rio Ferdinand all those years ago.

Bielsa has added centre-backs Robin Koch and Diego Llorente from SC Freiburg and Real Sociedad, as well as Brazilian winger Raphinha from Ligue 1 side Rennes, and midfield man Helder Costa – who starred in Leeds’ promotion campaign as he has made his loan permanent at a cost of £15-M.

Llorente will be absent having picked up an injury playing for Spain, and captain Liam Cooper is doubtful.

Though there is good news in that Pablo Hernandez could be fit to return having been out with a groin strain over the past two games.

Rodrigo has been included in the ones to watch team of Premier League's FIFA 21 — Rodrigo’s goal for Leeds vs Man City was the 800th scored by a Spaniard in the Premier League

Wolves hoping Portuguese boys are COVID free

One big story dominating the pre-match Leeds United vs Wolves news was the announcement that Portugal and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had tested positive for coronavirus.

And head coach Nuno is hoping his Portuguese contingent will all return with a clean bill of health.

Goalkeeper Rui Patricio, summer signing Nelson Semedo, along with Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Daniel Podence were all in the Portugal squad with Ronaldo last week, so they will undergo more tests before Monday.

Any of those players would be a loss, though Nuno has plenty of proven quality in his squad and did well to keep hold of Spain’s Adama Traore and Mexican striker Raul Jimenez in the summer window.

History

In the 19 meetings since 2003 with the vast majority outside the top-flight, Wolves enjoyed a slight edge, winning nine matches to Leeds’ seven and there have been three draws.

The last meeting was in March 2018 when Wolves were storming to promotion from the Championship and they left Elland Road with a 0-3 victory.

The recently departed Diogo Jota hit the crossbar with a thunderous strike, and he set up the third goal for Benik Afobe.

That Jota has gone to join champions Liverpool show just what a side Wolves already had in the second tier.

Betting Tip

	Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers	First Half 1X2 Draw @ 1.99
	October 20, 03:00 (GMT+8)

So let’s take a look at the very latest Leeds United vs Wolves betting odds and make a call.

Well, the hosts are slight favourites here at SBOTOP with odds of 2.50, with Wolves at 2.77 and the draw at 3.10.

If the Wolves squad is depleted then Leeds will have an even better chance, but they won’t run away with it. So I’m backing a level outcome at the end of 45 minutes with all to play for in the second half.