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Wolves vs Leeds LIVE: Rodrigo returns as relegation battle intensifies

talksport.com, 17 March 2023, 16:28
Wolves and Leeds are two of several teams locked in a desperate Premier League relegation battle and they face each other this weekend.

The Old Gold sit in 13th, three points above the drop zone and four clear of their opponents in 19th.

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Julen Lopetegui's side have noticeably improved under the Spaniard, but they are still in need of points.

Meanwhile, their opponents are yet to taste away success since Javi Gracia replaced Jesse Marsch.

The former Watford boss has collected four points from his opening three games as Leeds manager and a 2-2 draw against Brighton last weekend was a good result.

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Wolves vs Leeds: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash is set to take place on Saturday, March 18.

Kick-off at Molineux is scheduled for 3pm.

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talkSPORT 2 will have EXCLUSIVE coverage from the Midlands, with Dan Windle your host.

Commentary will then come from Ian Danter and former Scottish international Chris Iwelumo.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Wolves vs Leeds: Team news

Wolves will be without Hwang-Hee chan through injury and he joins Sasa Kalajdzic and Boubacar Traore on the sidelines.

But Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia are back after overcoming ankle and heel problems respectively.

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Meanwhile, the visitors have been dealt a huge blow as they will be without Tyler Adams.

The American international has sustained a hamstring issue and will miss out along with Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas.

But top scorer Rodrigo is fit again and will look to add to his ten league goals this season.

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Wolves vs Leeds: What has been said?

Leeds boss Gracia: "In all my experience playing against Wolves, they always were really, really demanding games.

"I think this time will not be different, it will be the same. In my opinion, they are playing well, it's a well organised team with good players.

"So I expect a very demanding game, and at the same time, I expect a good result for us as well.

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"Wolves can manage different shapes and players, I think the team worked really well this week and have prepared very well for the game.

"When you play against another team, then the game depends not only on you, but the other team as well.

"Of course, we go with a good mentality in terms of, to be competitive, trying to be aggressive, trying to show our best face.

"We know how important is the game and thinking this way we were preparing all the training sessions, trying to analyse the best way to attack, the best way to defend, the best way to prepare the games."

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Wolves vs Leeds: Match facts

Having been unbeaten in six league games against Leeds between 2017 and 2021 (W5 D1), Wolves have lost their last two against the Whites.

Following their 2-1 win on the opening weekend of the season, Leeds are looking to complete their first league double over Wolves since 2015-16, and first in the top-flight since 1973-74.

Wolves have won three of their last four home league games (L1), more than they had in their previous 12 (W2 D3 L7). All five of their home league wins this season have been to nil, with Wolves winless in their last 10 league games in which they've conceded at Molineux (D2 L8).

Leeds have earned four points from their three Premier League games under Javier Gracia (W1 D1 L1), as many as they had in their 10 games before his arrival (W0 D4 L6). However, the Whites are winless in their last seven away from home (D2 L5).

Leeds have won each of their last three Premier League games when starting the day in the relegation zone, beating Brentford on the final day last season, and Liverpool and Southampton this term.

No side has fewer away wins (1) or away points (6) in the Premier League this season than Leeds United, who have lost nine of their 13 away league games this term. Not since 2006-07 in the Championship have the Whites had as many as 10 away league defeats in 14 such matches from the start of a campaign.

Wolves have a shot conversion rate of 6.8% in the Premier League this season, their lowest in any of their nine campaigns in the competition. Only once have they scored more than twice in a Premier League game this term, doing so in a 3-0 win over Liverpool in February.

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has won both of his previous meetings with Leeds' Javier Gracia in all competitions. These games came in the 2020-21 campaign, with Lopetegui's Sevilla beating Gracia's Valencia 1-0 in LaLiga and 3-0 in the Copa Del Rey.

Leeds' Patrick Bamford scored his second Premier League goal of the season and first as a starter against Brighton last time out. He last scored in consecutive Premier League appearances in May 2021.

Wolves have had just three players score more than once for them in the Premier League this season - Rúben Neves (5), Daniel Podence (5) and Adama Traoré (2). No team has had fewer players score multiple goals so far this term.

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