Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats | OneFootball

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EPL Analysis

·17 September 2021

Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Newcastle United play Leeds United at St. James’ Park in the opening fixture of game week five in the English Premier League. Both teams are winless this season and remain in the bottom half of the table.

Which team has the better stats going into this match? Let’s have a look at the strengths and weaknesses of both teams before they clash against each other.


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Newcastle United sit 19th in the table with only one point after four games. The Magpies have scored five goals this season but have conceded 12 goals. Newcastle lost their last match away at Manchester United by 4-1.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Steve Bruce men play in 5 at the back formation and heavily rely on counterattacks. The team is ranked second and only behind Premier League leaders Manchester United. Newcastle players have dribbled a lot while playing on the counter and are ranked third for most dribbles attempted, and the success rate is over 50%.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Newcastle players have attempted 21 shots from outside the penalty area and only have one shot on target. They have wasted a lot of opportunities from outside the box. The Magpies have attempted 22 shots from inside the opposition box and managed to hit the target 11 times.

Newcastle has made very few recoveries and is ranked last in the list of recoveries made. The recoveries in attacking third and defence have been quite decent, but the team has struggled in the middle of the park.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Top-scorer Callum Wilson will miss this match due to injury. Saint-Maximin has been the leader of the attack in his absence. In the above viz, we can see that he sits second in the list of successful dribbles this season. The Frenchman has one goal and two assists to his name.

Leeds United sit two positions above their opponents and earned two points this season. Leeds also come into this match after a 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Elland Road.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

The match tempo of the team is very high and only below the top teams of the division. Bielsa men have played a lot of long balls this season. The team has kept good possession in the match and have played a lot of forward passes.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

The defensive duels win rate is very high for Leeds this season. Out of the 331 duels contested, the team has won 201 out of them. The recovery rate in the defensive third is also high this season for Leeds.

Article image:Newcastle vs Leeds preview: Counterattacks, high match tempo and low xGs – the stats

Leeds have a low xG rate this season and the team has created less chances this season. Only 12 out of 46 shots were on target this season. Bielsa men have only managed to hit seven shots in four matches from inside the opposition box.

Patrick Bamford has been the main man for Leeds in front of the goal this season. He has scored one goal and assisted in one goal. The Englishman has an xG of 2.1 this season. He is assisted by Raphinha who possesses threat with his creativity.

Newcastle and Leeds will look to bounce back with a victory and steady their campaign. Leeds will look to attack and Newcastle would focus on counter-attacking. Newcastle will look to make use of home advantage against a resolute Leeds side.

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