LeedsLeeds Unitedvs.MonacoMonaco

Jesse Marsch's side have beaten Elche and Real Sociedad in their last two friendlies, while Monaco have played three non-competitive matches since the season was halted for the World Cup, including a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina last time out.

Match preview

Leeds will be back in competitive action against Manchester City on December 28, with the Whites not involved in the latest round of the EFL Cup due to their 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 9.

Marsch's team were involved in a seven-goal thriller with Tottenham Hotspur in their last Premier League game on November 12, with Spurs scoring twice through Rodrigo Bentancur late on to win it after Leeds had led on three separate occasions during the contest.

The Whites are currently 15th in the Premier League table, boasting 15 points from their opening 14 matches, which has left them just two points clear of the bottom three.

Leeds have played two mid-season friendlies since the defeat at Tottenham, recording a 2-1 victory over Elche on December 8 before beating Real Sociedad by the same scoreline on December 16.

The Whites will take on Newcastle United and West Ham United in their two Premier League games after the home fixture against Man City before facing Cardiff City in the FA Cup on January 8.

Monaco, meanwhile, have played three mid-season friendlies since their last competitive match, which proved to be the 3-2 loss to Marseille in Ligue 1 on November 13.

Philippe Clement's side drew 1-1 with Sevilla on December 7 before recording a 1-0 victory over Empoli on December 16; the Ligue 1 side were then in action one day later against Fiorentina, with the two teams playing out a 1-1 draw.

Monaco will be back in competitive action against Auxerre on December 28, which will be their final match of the year before opening 2023 at home to Brest.

Clement's team are currently sixth in Ligue 1, having picked up 27 points from their opening 15 matches, which has left them four points behind third-placed Rennes.

Monaco have finished third in their last two Ligue 1 campaigns, but they were second in 2017-18 and managed to lift the title in 2016-17.

Leeds United friendly form:

W

L

D

W

W

W

Leeds United form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

W

Monaco friendly form:

D

L

L

Monaco form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

W

L

Team News

Leeds still have a number of injury problems, with Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, Luis Sinisterra and Archie Gray on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Junior Firpo, Diego Llorente and Crysencio Summerville are doubts for the Whites here.

Leeds had three players at the World Cup, with Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson in action for the USA, while Rasmus Kristensen represented Denmark during the competition in Qatar, but the trio should be involved in this contest.

As for Monaco, Axel Disasi and Youssouf Fofana were both involved in the World Cup final against Argentina, so the duo will not feature in this match.

However, Krepin Diatta, Ismail Jakobs, Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo could be involved despite featuring at the competition in Qatar.

Wissam Ben Yedder has been in strong form once again this season, scoring 10 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions, and the experienced striker is expected to lead the line for the Ligue 1 side.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Robles; Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Kristensen; Klich, Aaronson, Roca; Gnoto, Greenwood, Rodrigo

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Vanderson, Maripan, Badiashile, Henrique; Akliouche, Camara; Diatta, Volland, Golovin; Ben Yedder

We say: Leeds United 1-1 Monaco

This should be an entertaining match between two sides that like to get the ball down and play, but we are struggling to separate them here. Neither manager will be too concerned about the result, though, with the match instead being used as preparation for the return of competitive action.

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