A few weeks ago, Tottenham looked completely doomed. Now, after back-to-back wins under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs head into Monday night’s clash with Leeds believing Premier League survival is genuinely possible.
The mood changed dramatically after last weekend’s huge 2-1 win away at Aston Villa. Not only was it a massive three points, it was arguably Tottenham’s best performance of the season. De Zerbi’s arrival appears to have injected belief, intensity and organisation into a squad that had looked broken for most of the campaign.
That victory lifted Spurs above West Ham and out of the relegation zone with only three games remaining. Depending on the Hammers’ result against Arsenal, Tottenham could kick off either just above or just below the bottom three, adding even more pressure to an already huge night in North London.
Leeds Have Pulled Clear of Danger
While Tottenham and West Ham continue to scrap for survival, Leeds have managed to steady themselves at the right time. Daniel Farke’s side are seven points clear of the drop after winning three of their last four Premier League games.
Their FA Cup semi-final defeat may have hurt, but Leeds have quietly put together a strong end to the season. They are difficult to break down, disciplined without the ball and capable of frustrating opponents.
However, away form remains a concern. Leeds have won just two league games on the road all season, although eight of their 17 away matches have ended level. That suggests another tight and nervy contest could be on the cards.
Spurs Starting to Believe Again
The biggest difference under De Zerbi has been energy. Tottenham suddenly look like a team willing to fight again.
Players like Rodrigo Bentancur and Micky van de Ven have stepped up, while James Maddison edges closer to a long-awaited return after almost a year out injured. Spurs are still missing key players including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus, but the momentum is finally there.
Their recent record against Leeds will also give supporters confidence. Tottenham have won the last five meetings between the sides, including a 2-1 win earlier this season at Elland Road.
With the crowd behind them and survival within touching distance, this feels like another massive opportunity.
Leeds Can Still Cause Problems
Despite Tottenham’s recent improvement, Leeds are more than capable of spoiling the party.
Farke’s side have shown resilience throughout the run-in and know how to stay compact in difficult away fixtures. Spurs may dominate possession, but Leeds will likely look to stay organised before attacking on the counter.
If Tottenham start nervously, the visitors could make life extremely uncomfortable.
Match Odds at Bet9ja
Tottenham – 1.88
Draw – 3.90
Leeds – 3.90
Prediction
Tottenham finally seem to have momentum at exactly the right moment, but Leeds are stubborn opponents who rarely make things easy away from home.
This could be tense, physical and nervy throughout, but we’re backing Spurs to prevail in a tight clash.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Leeds
