Sheffield Wednesday will host Leeds United in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday night, with a spot in the third round on the cards.
Sheffield Wednesday have been quite mediocre in their recent outings, with just one win from the last four matches ahead of the game vs Leeds United. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly and give the home fans something to cheer about.
On the other hand, Leeds United are coming into this game on the back of a 5-0 thumping against Arsenal. They will be hoping to bounce back strongly. The Whites are certainly the better team on paper, and they will look to get back to winning ways.
Leeds United have done quite well against Sheffield Wednesday, with three wins on the bounce against their next opposition. The fans will expect a strong reaction from the players after the defeat to Arsenal, and it will be interesting to see if the players can step up and deliver. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Sheffield Wednesday
The home team will be without Nathaniel Chalobah, who will miss out with a hamstring injury. Di’Shon Bernard misses out with a knee problem.
Sheffield Wednesday will start in a 3-4-1-2 formation vs Leeds United, with Ethan Horvath in goal. In the back three, Yan Valery will start alongside Dominic Iorfa and Max Lowe. Liam Palmer and Olaf Kobacki will start as the wing-backs, and they will look to protect the defensive unit and hit Leeds on the break.
In the middle of the park, Svante Ingelsson and Barry Bannan will add control and creativity to the side. Charlie McNeill will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third. Finally, Ike Ugbo will lead the line for the hosts alongside Bailey Cadamarteri.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Horvath; Valery, Iorfa, Lowe; Palmer, Ingelsson, Bannan, Kobacki; McNeill; Ugbo, Cadamarteri
Leeds United
Ethan Ampadu will miss out with a knee injury, and new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin is working on his match fitness. Leeds United will start in a 4-3-3 formation vs Sheffield Wednesday, with Lucas Perri in goal.
Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson will start in the full-back roles, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. At the heart of the defence, Joe Rodon will start alongside Pascal Struijk.
As for the midfield unit, Ilia Gruev will start alongside Ao Tanaka and Anton Stach. They will look to add defensive cover, drive and creativity to the side. Joel Piroe will lead the line for Leeds United vs Sheffield Wednesday, with Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Gruev, Tanaka, Stach; James, Piroe, Gnonto
Key Stats
Leeds United have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven matches vs Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions.
Leeds United have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last three matches vs Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions.
Nine goals have been scored in the last six matches between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds United are unbeaten in five of the last six meetings against Sheffield Wednesday.
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
Embed from Getty Images
The Leeds United striker is our key player to watch out for. The 26-year-old striker will look to bounce back strongly after a disappointing performance against Arsenal, and he will look to get on the score sheet here.
Leeds United will need him to step up and deliver in the final third if they are to win the game and progress through to the next round of the competition. The Dutch attacker was outstanding for them last season, and he will really fancy his chances of doing well against the Championship-level club.
Prediction
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Leeds United
Leeds United are undoubtedly the better team here, and they should be able to grind out a positive result vs Sheffield Wednesday. The Whites will look to secure their place in the next round of the competition, and they have the players to get the job done.
The West Yorkshire outfit will be hurting after the embarrassing defeat against Arsenal, and the players will look to put things right. Both teams are likely to get on the score sheet here, but Leeds United have enough quality in the final third to grind out a narrow victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.