Evening Standard
·23 maggio 2024
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·23 maggio 2024
Leeds and Southampton meet at Wembley this weekend in the Championship play-off final.
Both teams are looking for an instant return to the Premier League following last year’s relegation and ultimately made relative light work of their semi-final assignments.
After tight first legs, they thrashed Norwich and West Brom respectively at home to tee-up a mouth-watering final.
Leeds looked on course for automatic promotion before a late season blip, while Southampton’s record unbeaten run lasting 25 games was not enough to break into the top two.
At this stage, it looks unlikely that Daniel Farke will be able to welcome back striker Patrick Bamford for the game after his recent knock.
Pascal Struijk will also be absent, though Sam Byram may return.
For the Saints, Gavin Bazunu and Juan Larios are out, along with Stuart Armstrong.
Che Adams and Ross Stewart could both feature, although there remains some doubt as to their fitness.
Leeds predicted XI: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe
Injured: Struijk, Dallas
Doubts: Bamford, Byram
Southampton predicted XI: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Brooks, Armstrong, Fraser
Doubts: Stewart, Adams
Time and date: 3pm BST on Sunday 26 May, 2024
Venue: Wembley
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports