This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Leeds United may be in for a tough test this weekend as they face Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road.
The London club are a bit of an enigma this season, they’ve been picking up results and they currently sit just two points behind the team they’re facing on Saturday, but they’ve managed to do that while having the second-worst defence in the entire division.
Of course, that means that they’re absolutely electric going forward, and there is one key battle this weekend that may decide where the points go.
On the chalkboard
If QPR’s strengths lie in their attack, Leeds’ lie in their defence.
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The Whites have conceded fewer goals than any other team in the Championship, while the R’s have outscored 22 of the teams in this division.
Despite the fact that both teams’ strengths are at either end of the pitch, it’s two midfielders that enable each side to be so good at what they do.
Flair vs brute force
This is potentially a battle between the best-attacking midfielder in the division and the best defensive midfielder in the league as Eberechi Eze and Kalvin Phillips take up two of the top four spots on WhoScored’s best Championship players list.
Indeed, Eze averages a higher rating than anyone else in the league, while Phillips is the fourth-best, and whoever wins this battle may single-handedly win their team the points.
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The QPR man’s main talent comes with his dribbling as he averages 2.9 dribbles per game, but that may be counteracted by Phillips’ tackling ability as he averages 4.1 tackles per game
However, despite the 23-year-old’s tenacity in the tackle, the midfielder is dribbled past 1.6 times per game so Eze may get the better of him on a couple of occasions.
Phillips must also be careful when he tries to tackle the QPR ace as Eze is fouled 2.3 times per game, while the defensive midfielder usually fouls his man 1.9 times per match.
The 21-year-old is also a top passer of the ball as he averages 1.8 passes per game, but Phillips’ intercepting skills could negate that as he makes 1.4 per match.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the number 10 has netted six times already this term as he has 2.4 shots per game. Therefore, Phillips may have to work harder than usual to stop the threat that the youngster poses as he makes only 0.2 blocks per game.