The atmosphere is expected to be wild at Elland Road on Sunday, as Leeds United host arch-rivals Manchester United at home in the Premier League for the first time in nearly two decades with fans inside the ground.
Of course, the Whites faced the Red Devils home and away in the top division last season but on both occasions there were no fans in the ground, due to the laws around the Covid pandemic. This season, fans have returned to stadiums and the Elland Road atmosphere has helped Leeds to some late goals in securing equalisers against Everton and Wolves, as well as a winner against Crystal Palace.
Sunday's fixture promises to be another level as there is a nastiness between these two fanbases which doesn't exist in the same manner against other teams to have come to Elland Road this season.
However, research from bettingexpert has revealed that whilst there is a hatred between the two clubs, on the pitch it is the cleanest derby in Premier League history.
A bettingexpert spokesperson said: "The Pennines derby is often considered one of the UK’s feistiest derbies - fans will remember Roy Keane’s horror tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland in 1997 - but the numbers suggest otherwise.
"Our research has revealed that Manchester United vs Leeds is actually the cleanest of the nation’s most famous rivalries.
"A raucous atmosphere is almost a guarantee at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, but a flurry of cards and bad tackles is less certain.”
According to the research, games between Leeds and Manchester United have only seen two red cards in 27 matches. This equates to only 0.07 per game, compared to 0.37 in the Merseyside derby, which is the highest amount.
Compared to the Merseyside derby, Liverpool vs Manchester United, the Manchester derby and the North London derby, Leeds and Manchester United's games also produce the fewest yellow cards, with 3.26 per game. The North London derby tops the group, with 4.15 yellow cards per game.
