Done Deal: Leeds United Has Signed Alexander Isak After ………..read more.

Done Deal: Leeds United Has Signed Alexander Isak After ………..read more.

West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United face off in one of three early Championship kick-offs this Saturday, with both teams navigating challenging circumstances.

Carlos Corberan and Daniel Farke have seen four of their top eight players from last season leave this summer due to financial constraints.

West Brom started the season well with a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the road, but their thin squad was exposed in a 2-1 defeat to League Two side Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup.

Leeds, too, are out of the cup after a largely second-string lineup was beaten 3-0 by promotion rivals Middlesbrough. A 3-3 draw with Portsmouth highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of their current setup.

Action at Both Ends

Leeds’ season might have begun poorly, but their defensive struggles are offset by a strong attacking presence, as they generated an impressive 3.46xG, including a penalty, from 22 shots on goal.

Daniel James, Willy Gnonto, and Joel Piroe were instrumental in their opening-day goals, contributing to 46 goal involvements in a combined 74 matches last season, with Brenden Aaronson also scoring against Portsmouth.

West Brom, on the other hand, produced 2.04xG against Queens Park Rangers, bouncing back well after conceding early. They scored in 19 of their 23 home games last season, and with nearly half of their attacks coming down the right flank, where they will face the defensively vulnerable Junior Firpo, they are likely to create more chances here.

However, West Brom is still a work in progress, with a central defense and midfield that lacks mobility—a potential advantage for Leeds’ dynamic, fast-paced attack that aims to exploit their high press.

Recommended Bet:
Both Teams to Score in West Brom vs. Leeds – SBK 4/5

Baggies May Have a Maja Threat

Backing a player who just scored a hat-trick might seem risky, especially when he only netted once in 198 minutes last season. However, there are reasons to believe Josh Maja could strike again.

The 25-year-old has had a full pre-season, and his sharpness was evident on opening day. Given that he finished his last two full seasons outside of the top tier with 15 and 16 goals, it’s a promising start.

Leeds’ defensive frailties are clear, having conceded six goals in their first two matches. Additionally, they allowed Portsmouth five shots, three of which were converted by their front two, while Josh Coburn and Delano Burgzorg had four shots each for Middlesbrough midweek.

This highlights the potential threat from West Brom’s Karlan Grant and Josh Maja, both likely to capitalize on attacks initiated from the right flank. Grant is priced at 21/10 to score anytime, while Maja is at 3/1, making Maja the better bet in this case.