Norwich City vs Leeds United: Preview and Prediction

Norwich City and Leeds United will be looking to move a step closer to the EFL Championship promotion play-off final when they clash at Carrow Road on Sunday.

The 2023/24 campaign is about to come to an end with just a few games remaining in each league. The EFL Championship regular season has ended and four teams are fighting for the final promotion spot. The first of the play-off semi-finals will feature Norwich City and Leeds United, with the two sides clashing at Carrow Road on Sunday.

The path to a top six finish has not been easy for Norwich City in the 2023/24 season. The Canaries have been in mid-table for much of the EFL Championship campaign. However, a run of just two defeats in their last ten games has helped David Wagner’s men find themselves sixth in the table.

As for Leeds United, they have been out of the blocks, managing just one win in their first five EFL Championship outings. However, Daniel Farke has galvanized his team after their poor start, with the first three months of 2024 giving them hope of a top-two finish. But while the Whites had their fate in their hands, just one win in their last six games meant they squandered the initiative.

Leeds United won both of their games against Norwich City in the regular season, winning 3-2 at Carrow Road in October and 1-0 at Elland Road in January. Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the meeting ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team news and tactics

City of Norwich

David Wagner doesn’t have many injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s final game. The Norwich City manager will be without the services of three first-team players against Leeds United on Sunday.

Ashley Barnes is the most notable absentee, with the veteran forward recovering from a calf injury. The 34-year-old accompanies Onel Hernandez (foot) and Liam Gibbs (muscle injury).

Angus Gunn will take his place between the sticks, with Norwich City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Leeds United. The backline should feature Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy, Ben Gibson and Sam McCallum.

In terms of the middle unit, one cannot look past Jacob Sorensen and Kenny McLean in the dual pivot in the middle of the park. Marcelino Nunez will resume no. Role 10, with Borja Sainz and Gabriel Sara being the two wide forwards. Finally, Josh Sargent will lead the attack for the home team on Sunday.

Likely formation (4-2-3-1): Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, McCallum; Sorensen, McLean; Sara, Nunez, Sainz; sergeant

Leeds United

Unlike his counterpart in the dugout at Norwich City, Daniel Farke has a pressing issue to deal with ahead of the trip to Carrow Road. The Leeds United manager will be without a first-team player on Sunday.

While the visitors will travel to Carrow Road without a single player, he is a key figure for them. Daniel James is the only absentee, the Welsh winger recovering from an abdominal problem.

Wilfried Gnonto will replace James on the right flank, joining Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe in the back three. The quartet will be given license to express themselves freely, with the pivot duo of Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park.

Illan Meslier will take his usual place between the sticks, with Leeds United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Norwich City. Finally, the backline should feature Archie Gray, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo.

Likely formation (4-2-3-1): Tradesman; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Pyro

Key statistics

• Norwich City have won just one of their last seven home games against Leeds United in all competitions (D2 L4), losing their last three meetings. Their encounter at Carrow Road in the regular season in the Championship ended 3-2 to the Whites.
• Meanwhile, Leeds United are on a four-match winning streak against Norwich City in all competitions.
• Leeds United have never won promotion via the Football League play-offs, with this season’s campaign their sixth appearance. They lost 4-3 on aggregate to Derby County in the 2018/19 semi-final in their most recent attempt.
• Norwich City have won both of their home games in the Football League play-offs by 3-1 (vs Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2001/02 and Ipswich Town in 2014/15).
• Since being promoted from the second tier to the Championship in 2004, the third-placed team has won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs almost 50% of the time (9/19).

Player to watch

Crysencio Summerville

Embed from Getty Images

As Leeds United struggle to put their opponents away in the final six weeks of the EFL Championship regular season, the cracks are visible in Daniel Farke’s side. So the onus is on Crysencio Summerville to rediscover his best form and deliver the goods to return to the Premier League.

The Dutchman has enjoyed a spectacular campaign so far, collecting 20 goals and 10 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions. However, this effort will come to naught if Leeds United cannot win promotion to the Premier League.

foresight

Norwich City 2-2 Leeds United

Neither side ended the season well, although Norwich City had slightly better form. However, Leeds United have had the upper hand over the Canaries in their two meetings this season, even though both wins have come by a one-goal margin.

The visitors have more quality on the pitch, especially in the final third. However, Norwich City’s spirit and resilience will help them take the game deep. The Hard Tackle predicts an evenly contested affair that should end in a 2-2 draw between Norwich City and Leeds United at Carrow Road on Sunday.