After navigating two nerve-shredding semi-finals, Leeds United and Southampton will lock horns at 3pm this Sunday in football’s “richest” game: the Championship Play-Off Final.
Both teams have had stellar seasons, accumulating highly impressive points tallies during the regular league season: 90 in Leeds’ case and 84 in Southampton’s.
Such high tallies would normally be rewarded with automatic promotion, but because Leicester City and Ipswich Town fared even better than that this season, these two teams still have to win the second tier’s showpiece fixture to make an immediate return to the English top flight.
And although the tie doesn’t quite have the same magical appeal for the neutral as last season’s final between Coventry City and Luton Town, which was guaranteed to have a fairy tale ending given the rapid rise of both clubs, this year’s final promises to be a belter, with two of the division’s most potent attacks on show.
Southampton have in-form Adam Armstrong in their ranks, who netted 23 times and provided 13 assists in the regular season, as well as the likes of the impressive playmaking midfielder Flynn Downes, Will Smallbone, David Brooks and Ryan Fraser — so plenty of strength in depth, indeed.
Meanwhile, Leeds United can count on the dangerous Crysencio Summerville, who scored 20 goals and registered 9 assists during the regular league campaign, Joël Piroe, Daniel James, Georginio Rutter, the highly rated youngster Archie Gray, Wilfried Gnonto, and, of course, the experienced striker Patrick Bamford.
There will certainly be plenty of nerves with what’s at stake, but with Southampton’s possession-based game and Leeds’ high-intensity style and rapid attacking play, there are bound to be chances at both ends and we should be in for a great tactical battle, at least.
So, who do you think will be joining the Foxes and the Tractor Boys in the big time?
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