Leeds vs Portsmouth Prediction: Whites to win at Elland Road

After romping to the League 1 title last season, Portsmouth make their long-awaited return to the EFL Championship on Saturday (12:30, Sky Sports+), and it doesn't get any tougher than a trip to Elland Road to take on the 2023/24 play-off finalists Leeds United, who have been installed as favorites to win the division this year.

Read below for my Leeds vs Portsmouth prediction and all the latest team news ahead of this opening weekend clash in West Yorkshire.

Football Odds

Team News

Leeds have lost several notable players this summer including academy graduate Archie Gray and last season's top scorer Crysencio Summerville, who have joined Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United respectively.

The Whites have acquired the talents of right-back Jayden Bogle from Sheffield United, though, and brought in seasoned Championship campaigner Joe Rothwell on loan from AFC Bournemouth. Bogle looks certain to start on Saturday while Rothwell could partner Ilia Gruev in the middle of midfield.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Spanish striker Mateo Joseph could get the nod up top ahead of Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe after opening the scoring in a 2-0 win against Valencia last week.

Portsmouth could hand several debuts out themselves at Elland Road with summer signings Samuel Silvera, Jordan Williams and Elias Sorensen all pushing to feature.

Josh Murphy, however, is 'touch and go' after taking a blow to his right ankle in last weekend's pre-season defeat to Charlton Athletic, while fellow new arrival Jacob Farrell is definitely out with a knee injury, joining Tom McIntyre (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Pompey head coach John Mousinho has issues in central defence where Conor Shaughnessy and Ryley Towler are the only two senior players available - the latter making just three starts in League 1 last season.

Leeds vs Portsmouth Odds

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Unsurprisingly, the title favourites are 4/11 to kick off their 2024/25 campaign with a victory on home soil, giving them an implied win probability of 73.3%, while the visitors are 7/1, or a 12.5% chance.

The draw can be backed at 4/1, both teams to score at 4/5, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/15.

Despite being uncertain to start on Saturday, Bamford leads the anytime goalscorer list at 6/5, closely followed by teammate Joseph (13/10).

Leeds to win & both teams to score @ 9/5

I've got high hopes for Pompey this season. I believe they will comfortably avoid relegation and potentially push for a mid-table position if everything comes together.

However, they're ill-equipped for an opening weekend trip to Elland Road, as they are seriously light in central defence. Shaughnessy was a mainstay in defence last season but his partner for much of the campaign, Sean Raggett, has remained in League 1 with Rotherham United, leaving 22-year-old Towler as a potential starter on Saturday.

The Bristolian barely played last term and could find it tough up against the likes of Joseph, Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter at Elland Road.

Leeds are learning to live without Gray, Summerville and Glen Kamara but at home, I expect the Whites to have too much for the south-coast side this weekend. I do see the visitors getting on the scoresheet, though, with last season's top scorer Colby Bishop and towering Australia forward Kusuni Yengi providing a big threat in attack.

Georginio Rutter anytime scorer @ 6/4

Rutter adopted the role of playmaker last season, setting his teammates up 16 times in the Championship but scoring just seven times himself. The likes of Joseph, Bamford and Gnonto are expected to outscore the Frenchman this term but Rutter has scored in Leeds' last two pre-season friendlies against Harrogate and Valencia so should be heading into Saturday in a confident mood.

Joseph may start the game but is unlikely to play the duration, with Bamford a likely replacement, while Gnonto could be withdrawn as an explosive young winger whose minutes need to be managed.

Rutter, on the other hand, is more likely to play the majority, if not all, of the match, and coupled with his recent form, makes him a viable candidate to find the net anytime against Pompey.

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