Leeds United vs. Aston Villa – EPL, February 27, 2021

Aston Villa sits two places – and one point – above Leeds in the EPL table, but it is the Yorkshire side that goes into this game with all the confidence.

Marcelo Bielsa’s team has certainly entertaining to watch this season, and the Argentinian coach will be hoping that Saturday’s game will be one where the home side does all the goal scoring.

Only West Brom has conceded more goals than Leeds this season, so it is not a surprise that BetOnline looks to have priced this game rather conservatively. The home side should be the favorite to win, but there is also the chance that its tactics could backfire in the way of allowing goals at the other end.

Leeds comprehensively beat Southampton in the week to catch up with the majority of the Premier League in games played – and climb back into the top half of the division. The 3-0 scoreline is a little unfair on the Saints, who started well, but the Elland Road club was well worth the three points in the end.

That win was without the influential Kalvin Phillips – and he could miss this fixture as well. But Bielsa seems to get the very best out of whoever makes his starting eleven, and they should be able to give Aston Villa a good game at the very least. Patrick Bamford, in particular, seems to be enjoying himself at the moment, and he may be the main threat for goals as far as Leeds is concerned.

Dean Smith will be sweating over the possibility of Jack Grealish missing another game after his absence proved to be a factor in Villa’s defeat at home to Leicester on Sunday. It was always going to be a tough game, but not being able to rely on such an inspirational and talismanic player was a big loss.

There are plenty of other very talented players in the Villa squad – and it should not be forgotten that it is higher in the league table – but Grealish brings an extra quality to the team, especially when things are not going so well. Villa has not scored more than one goal in its five games and could do with its main playmaker to create the chances to find the net.

There is always the chance that an opponent will work out how to exploit the way that Leeds set up, but that possibility also means that the odds for Bielsa’s team to win – even at home – remain fairly attractive. I think Leeds is looking particularly good at the moment and will be backing the home side to take the points here.