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Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United: Match preview
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- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United: Match preview
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United: Match preview
(REUTERS)
Leeds United head to the South Coast on Saturday afternoon looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, but Daniel Farke's side face one of their toughest tests yet against a Brighton & Hove Albion side who have already shown just how dangerous they can be in front of goal.
A win over Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend was followed by another victory at the City Ground in the EFL Cup before Leeds were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford at Elland Road last weekend.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin's second-half equaliser rescued a point after Kevin Schade had given the visitors the lead, ensuring the Whites remained unbeaten after their opening two league fixtures.
Brighton have also made an impressive start, although Fabian Hürzeler's side arrive at the American Express Stadium looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign.
The Seagulls began the season in emphatic fashion, dismantling Aston Villa 4-0 on the opening weekend before recording another 4-0 victory over Tromso in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.
Their attacking quality was on display again at Stamford Bridge last weekend, although three goals were not enough to earn anything as Chelsea eventually came out on top in a remarkable 4-3 contest.
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That result perhaps tells you everything about Brighton's start to the campaign. They have scored seven goals in their opening two league matches, with their attacking threat coming from a number of different sources rather than relying on one individual.
Seven different Brighton players have already found the net this season, meaning Leeds will need to be alert across the pitch rather than simply focusing on one particular dangerman.
That attacking threat will provide a significant test for a Leeds defence that has already suffered a major setback.
Joe Rodon is expected to miss between eight and 10 weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against Brentford, leaving Farke with an important decision to make at the heart of his defence.
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"Bad news," Farke said when confirming the extent of Rodon's injury.
"Joe has a hamstring injury. He will be out for, at the moment, an assessment of eight to 10 weeks so he will definitely not play before the next international break."
The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating given Rodon had started both of Leeds' opening league fixtures.
His absence could also see James Justin become increasingly important in central defence, something Farke acknowledged when discussing the club's decision to bring Melvin Bard into the squad.
The arrival of Bard has provided Farke with another wing-back option and could allow Leeds greater flexibility with their defensive selections while Rodon is unavailable.
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A difficult trip for Leeds
History certainly does not favour the Whites heading into Saturday's fixture.
Leeds have yet to win at the newly built Amex Stadium, while their last league victory away to Brighton came all the way back in 2009.
The Seagulls have therefore become something of an awkward opponent for Leeds over the years, particularly away from Elland Road.
That record will mean little once the two sides take to the pitch, however, and Farke will be encouraged by the way his side have approached the opening weeks of the campaign.
Leeds have already shown that they can find different ways to get results.
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The late victory at Forest demonstrated their ability to remain patient and punish an opponent late on, while the Brentford draw showed a willingness to fight through a difficult afternoon and take something from a game that could easily have slipped away from them.
Jaka Bijol is expecting another demanding afternoon.
"It is going to be one really hard game again and we have to be at our best level to bring the fight to them to get the result," the defender told Premier League Studios.
Bijol also praised the impact of Leeds' summer additions, insisting the new arrivals have brought qualities the squad needed.
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"Everyone who came, I think they brought something new and something we needed so, yeah, happy to have them. We will continue to grow together and it is nice to see."
Farke wary of Brighton threat
Farke was understandably full of praise for Saturday's opponents when discussing the fixture.
"I think they've played a really good second half of last season, qualified for Europe, impressive start to the season, so the whole pre-season was impressive," he said.
"Overall they are in really good shape. Fabian [Hürzeler] has done a fantastic job there and we travel also very respectful. We have to be at our best in order to be competitive."
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That final point could prove crucial.
Brighton have already demonstrated their ability to overwhelm teams when they find their rhythm, while the defeat at Chelsea showed that they are not going to sacrifice their attacking principles simply because they are playing away from home.
For Leeds, the challenge will be finding the right balance between taking the game to Brighton and ensuring they do not leave themselves exposed to the Seagulls' pace and movement.
The midfield battle could therefore be particularly important, with Leeds needing their central players to provide protection in front of an inexperienced defensive combination while still giving the likes of Calvert-Lewin and their attacking players enough support.
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Calvert-Lewin will once again be one of the players Brighton have to worry about.
The striker opened his Leeds account with the winner at Nottingham Forest before rescuing a point against Brentford, and his ability to occupy Brighton's centre-backs could be important if Leeds are able to establish sustained possession in the final third.
The view from inside the camp
Bijol believes the competition within the squad is already helping Leeds improve, particularly with so many new faces arriving during the summer.
That depth could prove particularly valuable over the coming weeks, with Rodon's injury now forcing Farke to make adjustments sooner than he would have wanted.
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Leeds currently sit eighth in the Premier League, with Brighton immediately behind them in ninth. Both sides have four points from their opening two matches, although Brighton's seven goals have given them a superior goal difference.
There is little to separate the teams on paper, but Brighton's home record and attacking form mean Leeds will need another disciplined performance if they are to leave the Amex with something to show for their long journey south.
For a side that has already picked up four points from two difficult opening fixtures, another positive result would provide further evidence that this Leeds team is capable of competing at this level.
Kick-off is at 3pm on Saturday, September 5, with Stuart Attwell taking charge. He will be assisted by Constantine Hatzidakis and Nick Hopton, with John Busby the fourth official. James Bell is the VAR, with Edward Smart as the additional VAR.
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Brighton's early-season form suggests goals could be on the cards once again, but Leeds will be hoping the story is rather different from their last visit to the South Coast.
After all, extending this unbeaten start would be another significant step forward for Farke's side.
