Leeds United welcome Championship side Norwich City to Elland Road late Sunday afternoon in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Leeds’s Premier League survival hopes took a real hit in midweek, as they fell to a 0-1 defeat at home to fellow newly-promoted side Sunderland.
That’s now back-to-back defeats in a four-game winless run in the Premier League for the Whites, meaning they remain in 15th position, but now just three points outside of the relegation zone.
Leeds have reached this stage of the competition by knocking out two Championship sides, firstly by winning 1-3 at Derby County, before requiring penalties to edge past Birmingham City at St Andrews’, and Daniel Farke will be hoping to make it a hat trick against his former side on Sunday.
Norwich have sealed their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup thanks to a pair of victories at home to League Two promotion contenders Walsall (5-1) and fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion (3-1).
The Canaries looked set to be in a relegation battle this season, but seven wins from their last nine Championship matches have seen ex-Rangers boss Phillippe Clement guide his new side up to 17th position in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
How the bookies view it: Leeds heavy favourites
Leeds have been installed as clear favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, with bet365 pricing the Whites at just 1/5 To Qualify, whilst the win inside 90 minutes is 4/9.
Despite their recent form, Norwich are a massive 10/3 to advance to the next round and 6/1 to win inside regulation time.
Head to head: Eight unbeaten for the Whites
Leeds are unbeaten in each of their previous eight meetings with Norwich City (W6-D2-L0), including wins in each of their last four clashes at Elland Road.
Players to watch: Ben Slimane to bag again?
Anis Ben Slimane has been in fine form for the Canaries since the turn of the year, with the ex-Sheffield United man scoring five goals and providing five assists across his opening 11 matches in all competitions.
That includes the opener in their 0-2 win away at struggling Leicester City last weekend – as well as a pair of assists in both FA Cup matches – and the Tunisian is an appealing 9/2 at bet365 to Score or Assist on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups:
Despite Noah Okafor named as Leeds’ only doubt, Daniel Farke is expected to rotate his side.
Norwich, on the other hand, have a whole host of injuries, with Mohamed Toure, Oscar Schwartau, Matej Jurasek, Jovon Makama, Papa Amadou Diallo, Harry Amass, Gabriel Forsyth, Mirko Topic, Ante Crnac, Jeffrey Schlupp, Shane Duffy and Lucien Mahovo all missing.
Leeds United: Perri, Justin, Bijol, Bornauw, Gnonto, Tanaka, Longstaff, Gudmundsson, Buonanotte, Aaronson, Nmecha
Norwich City: Grimshaw, Stacey, McConville, Darling, Fisher, Field, Wright, Slimane, Maghoma, Ahmed, Kvistgaarden
Anything else catch the eye?
With Leeds likely to rotate and Norwich arriving at Elland Road in good form, goals look the safest way to approach this cup tie.
Both Teams to Score landed in both of the Whites’ FA Cup ties against Championship opposition this season, and a repeat pays an appealing 4/5 at bet365.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
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