Leeds United are involved in a tough race to finish in the promotion spots. Sheffield United and Burnley are emerging as their fiercest rivals this season but it is easy to forget that Sunderland are also snapping at their heels just two points and two places behind the Whites. The gruelling nature of the festive period means that the top of the table could look different by the time the FA Cup third rolls around next month.
Daniel Farke’s men sit second in the table, just three points behind league leaders Sheffield United. However, Burnley are just a point behind the Whites in third and Sunderland are also very much involved in the automatic promotion race in fourth.
All four teams are now preparing to take on a set of festive fixtures that will test the strength, resilience and mettle of their squads because of how gruelling it can get.
The fans love the festive period but the games are tough on the players because of how unrelenting they can be in a very short space of time and how physically and mentally they often are.
All four teams will play five games in the next fortnight and this period of the season often ends up defining the season of a team who are chasing promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds United will have one eye on how the rivals are doing
Leeds will be focused on maximising their points in the next five games. However, the tight nature of the race at the top of the table means the players will also have an eye on what the other three teams are doing.
Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland also have a tricky run of games as the festive period invariably throws up some weird and shocking results from time to time.
The league leaders will start their festive period of games with a trip to Cardiff City and they are almost certain to win three points despite it being an away game. The Blue Birds are fighting relegation and Sheffield United have a decent away record, winning five of their eleven games on the road.
However, the Blades have a big Boxing Day game at Bramall Lane. Burnley will visit the Yorkshire team and it is hard to predict the result. Sheffield United have won nine of their ten home games this season but Scott Parker’s side have a good record on the road, winning six of their eleven away games.
Three days later Sheffield United have another tough home game lined up against a West Brom side who are in the mix for the playoff spots before they travel to take on promotion rivals Sunderland away from home.
The Blades will end their festive period of games with another tough away trip to Watford.
Burnley will host Watford this weekend and they will hope to improve their home form by picking up three points. But then they have the big game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day before another tough away game against Middlesbrough on 29th December.
The Clarets start 2025 with a home game against Stoke City before a tricky away trip to Blackburn Rovers who recently beat Leeds United 1-0 at Ewood Park.
Sunderland have a home game against the league leaders on New Year’s Day and a win there could set the cat amongst the pigeons in the automatic promotion race.
They will host Norwich City and Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light during this period while taking away trips to tricky Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City.
How do the fixtures for the Whites compare to their promotion rivals
Leeds will be away from home in three of the next five games and the Whites’ record on the road this season has been poor. Just three wins in ten will not inspire any confidence.
However, a closer look will tell us that Leeds should be beating all three teams they are set to face on the road this season. Stoke and Derby are on the wrong side of the Championship table and Hull City are rooted to the bottom of the standings.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Leeds to get their record straight away from home this season and they will need those points given how tight it could be at the end of the season.
Leeds should be taking care of Oxford United and Blackburn Rovers at home despite the latter recently beating them 1-0 at Ewood Park.
On paper, Leeds have a slightly easier set of festive fixtures compared to their promotion rivals. They will avoid all the big hitters while taking on teams who are either in mid-table or fighting for their lives in the championship.
It will not be a major surprise if Leeds come out on the other side of the next five games in a strong position and possibly at the summit of the Championship standings.
