Leeds vs. Chelsea Betting Tips: Two tips for this clash of historic rivals

Super Sunday gets underway at Elland Road, as Leeds United welcome Chelsea to Yorkshire with both sides looking to preserve their unbeaten starts to the season.

With a win and a draw from each of their two games so far, the two sides have more in common than anyone expected in pre-season - including the nature of their stalemates.

Both teams conceded late equalisers last weekend having led for much of their games, with Leeds squandering a 2-0 lead at Southampton on Saturday afternoon before Chelsea were stunned by a controversial late equaliser by Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

The heated history of that London rivalry was brought to the fore on Sunday, with referee Anthony Taylor struggling to keep a lid on sidelines squabbles, in a match that was akin to 2016’s ‘Battle of the Bridge’.

Both managers, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel, were sent off after full-time as a recurring touchline feud ended with both managers squaring up to one another while ‘shaking hands’.

The nature of Harry Kane’s late equaliser - with VAR official Mike Dean failing to adequately punish a hair tug by Cristian Romero on new blue Marc Cucurella - dominated the headlines and took away from what was an impressive Chelsea performance, particularly in the first half.

The Blues dominated for long stretches of the game, pressing high on Spurs’ central midfield pairing and offering them no way out for long periods. N’Golo Kante looked completely different to the player that was a shell of himself last season too, and it’ll be a shame for him to miss out here.

It should mean an opportunity for Conor Gallagher, who impressed on loan at Crystal Palace last season, to slot in alongside Jorginho - with Mateo Kovacic still sidelined with a knee issue.

Leeds, on the other hand, look likely to be without Patrick Bamford once again - with the striker substituted in the first half last week - while Junior Firpo, Stuart Dallas, and Luke Ayling are continued absences.

In the case of Bamford, it’ll be the 31st game he’s missed of The Lilywhites last 37 in the Premier League - playing 90 minutes just once in that span - with the frequency and variety of his injuries a cause for real concern.

The shining light for Jesse Marsch’s side this season has come from a rejuvenated Rodrigo and an impressive Jack Harrison, who have both made the most of Raphinha’s departure to create a mutually beneficial partnership.

Harrison has increased his ‘shot-creating actions’ drastically - playing 5.79 passes per 90 that led to shots compared to 2.01 last year - with Rodrigo being the biggest benefactor of this, taking 4.71 shots per 90 compared to just 1.90 per 90 last season.

The latter is also doing a solid job of testing keepers - or embarrassing them in his case - with four of his eight shots hitting the target, and three of them finding the back of the net.

With Bamford missing he looks likely to start as the lone striker too which - on paper - looks like a tough test, but there is enough about him and Leeds’ creative players to manufacture opportunities.

Chelsea haven’t been an impenetrable fortress either, despite the addition of Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella in the off season. Spurs created four ‘big’ chances against them last Sunday, whilst even Everton (who have looked pretty dreadful for a while) mustered up four shots on target in the season opener.

As good as he has been with the ball for Leeds in the opening pair of games this season, he’s not been quite as impressive off it - and its got him in trouble already.

The left midfielder has been culpable for a couple of cynical fouls and it’s seen him booked in the first half of both of his starts; clipping the ankles of Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap last weekend and pulling back Wolves’ Pedro Neto in the opener.

One player you probably don’t want to be facing when you’re prone to ‘taking one for the team’ is Chelsea wing-back Reece James, who is one of the league’s premier attacking talents. He was fouled twice in the Blues’ game against Spurs last weekend, and suffered five fouls the two times these sides faced off last season.

He’s actually been booked in each of Chelsea’s opening games too, and the double for the pair to find themselves in bother is 43/1 at Betfair.