Leeds v Southampton Predictions, Bet Builder Tips & Odds (Championship Play-Off Final)

The Championship play-off final at Wembley this weekend will decide the last spot in the upcoming Premier League season, as Leeds United and Southampton face off in a highly anticipated clash. Who will get promoted? Check out here our Leeds vs Southampton betting preview with expert predictions, bet builder tips, line-ups, team news, latest odds, bookies' offers and sign-up offers!

How to watch Leeds vs Southampton?  

Both teams will make their way to the national stadium on Sunday afternoon, with the match set to kick off at 3pm.

For those unable to attend the live action at Wembley, the match will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event. The coverage begins at 2pm, one hour before kick-off. Additionally, fans can stream the game through the Sky Sports app.

• 3:00 pm: Leeds vs Southampton

Leeds vs Southampton betting preview  

Having suffered relegation last season, Leeds and Southampton now have a chance to make a swift return to the top-flight by winning the highly anticipated 'richest game in football' at Wembley. If successful, they will join champions Leicester and runners-up Ipswich in the Premier League.

Both teams racked up impressive points totals in the Championship this season, with Leeds amassing 90 points and Southampton accumulating 87 points. However, despite their strong performances, these totals fell short of securing automatic promotion, as Leicester City (97) and Ipswich Town (96) dominated the competition.

Leeds, who finished third in the Championship table, earned their spot at Wembley with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Norwich City in the semi-finals. Goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville sealed their passage to the final. The Whites were initially favored for automatic promotion but faltered in the last month, winning just one of their final six games.

Southampton, who finished in a commendable 4th place, displayed their dominance over West Brom with a convincing 3-1 victory in the second leg of their play-off semi-final. It was none other than their striking sensation, Adam Armstrong, who came to their rescue with a crucial brace in the dying moments of the game, securing their passage into the next stage. The first leg had ended in a goalless draw at the Hawthorns. Saints went 22 games unbeaten in the middle of the campaign, but they collected just 7 points from the last 15 available.

Leeds United suffered two defeats at the hands of Southampton in both league matches this season. Just earlier this month, they succumbed to a 2-1 loss at their home ground, Elland Road, against Russell Martin's squad. In a previous clash at St Mary's in September, Leeds were once again vanquished by a 3-1 scoreline. Out of the past five meetings, Leeds emerged triumphant in only one, a 1-0 victory in the Premier League hosted at Elland Road back in February 2023.

Probable Lineups   

Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Gray, Ampadu, Rodon, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe

Leeds head to Wemblet without their long-term absentee Pascal Struijk, who continues to recover from a groin injury. Daniel Farke will also be keeping a close eye on Patrick Bamford's fitness as the forward has missed the last four games due to a knee issue. On the bright side, Wilfried Gnonto, who suffered a knock, was fit enough to start the second leg on Thursday and is expected to partner Joel Piroe up front. Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev will provide defensive support to the offensive quartet, while the four-man defense of Archie Gray, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo will shield goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Southampton (4-3-3): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Aribo, Downes, Smallbone; Brooks, Armstrong, Fraser

Russell Martin, the Southampton manager, will eagerly await the availability of Che Adams and Ross Stewart, as their presence would provide a significant boost. It seems likely that Adams will be fit and ready to compete. Ryan Fraser, despite a minor issue, is expected to make an appearance, while Ryan Manning stands a chance of retaining his spot following an impressive performance. Southampton's defensive lineup will see Kyle Walkers-Peters offering an attacking threat from the right-back position, with Jack Stephens most likely being asked to fill in at left-back. This arrangement allows Jan Bednarek and loaned Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis to form a strong partnership in the central defense.

Best Odds 

Leeds begin the match as favourites with football betting sites, with Bet365 pricing their victory at 27/20. The draw is available at 12/5 with Ladbrokes while VBet are offering 21/10 for a Southampton victory.

Leeds vs Southampton Betting Tips  

Play-off finals often carry a sense of nervousness and caution, but Southampton hold a mental advantage after defeating Leeds in both previous encounters throughout the season.

Anyway, Leeds United will enter the match against Southampton high on confidence, having hammered Norwich City 4-0 in the decisive second leg of their semi-final encounter. With their lethal counter-attacks, they are bound to pose a significant challenge to the defensive line of the Saints.

It is noteworthy that, since the Championship play-off final began taking place at the Wembley Stadium in 2007, only six out of the seventeen clashes have witnessed both teams scoring goals in regular time.

Therefore, we anticipate a match characterized by a scarcity of goals, and we predict a slender 1-0 victory in favor of Leeds United. Keeping a sharp eye out for him, Crisencio Summerville is poised to emerge as the most dangerous player on the field.. 

Leeds v Southampton Bet Builder Tips

The bet builder feature has become increasingly popular amongst punters, as it allows them to make their own bets based on the odds provided by their chosen bookmaker.

Looking for an amazing bet builder on this match? We have analysed all the key stats (passes, tackles, corners, throw-ins, etc..), and this is our recommended bet builder which can be played at Betfred. You can add it to your betslip instantly by click the 'Bet' button in the box below.

Follow BetAndSkill on Twitter or read our football predictions! We have also collected all the best betting promotions and exclusive promo codes from the top UK bookmakers and new betting sites.