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Lewis Barton

We simulated Southampton vs Leeds United to get a score prediction

Leeds will be looking for a repeat of their opening day win this weekend, as they face Southampton on Saturday. Rodrigo's first-half strike, followed by Rayan Ait-Nouri's own goal, saw Leeds come from a goal behind to win 2-1 against Wolves last week, making it the perfect start to the season for Jesse Marsch.

It wasn't the same for Southampton in their opening game of the season though, with the Saints sitting bottom of the league after losing 4-1 to Tottenham Hotspur. And ahead of Saturday, Leeds could potentially have been handed a triple injury boost. Stuart Dallas, Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling are all guaranteed absentees for Saturday's clash, whilst Luis Sinisterra, Adam Forshaw and Liam Cooper could potentially make the squad.

So, what teams will both sides select? We simulated Southampton vs Leeds to try and predict the score.

READ MORE: Southampton chiefs quizzed on Che Adams future amid Leeds United and Everton links

Southampton vs Leeds score predicted by simulation

To run this simulation, we used FIFA 22, updating the squads with the latest transfers made in this window. Both sides lined up in their 2021/22 kits as FIFA 22 does not provide the 2022/23 ones.

We predict that Southampton will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with the line-up looking as follows: Bazunu; Stephens, Bednarek, Salisu; Walker-Peters, Ward-Pworse, Lavia, Romeu, Perraud; Armstrong, Aribo.

Leeds' predicted XI vs Southampton (EA SPORTS FIFA)

We predict that Leeds will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the line-up looking as follows: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Aaronson, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford.

It was the worst start possible for Leeds, with Adam Armstrong scoring a fantastic long-range effort to put Southampton ahead.

Adam Armstrong scored two fantastic long-range efforts to put Southampton 2-0 up (EA SPORTS FIFA)

After conceding, Leeds pushed for an equaliser, forcing Gavin Bazunu into some great saves, but they were also guilty of missing some great chances, with Bamford, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison all having great chances to equalise.

Despite the control Leeds had on the game, Southampton then scored a second to go two goals ahead, completely against the run of play. Armstrong once again scored a brilliant long-range effort, leaving Illan Meslier with no chance for the second time.

Leeds continued to fight for a way back into the game, doing everything right but score. Bamford was guilty of missing a few chances, but he handed Leeds a lifeline when he pulled a goal back in the 84th minute.

Patrick Bamford scored to make it 2-1 (EA SPORTS FIFA)

The striker was played through on goal before drilling a powerful effort at goal, flying past Bazunu. Marsch's side threw all they had at Southampton, but they failed to find an equaliser and lost the game.

FIFA 22 score prediction: Southampton 2-1 Leeds

FT stats from Southampton 2-1 Leeds in FIFA 22 (EA SPORTS FIFA)

FIFA 22 predicts that Southampton could beat Leeds on Saturday thanks to two wonder goals from Adam Armstrong, with the Saints outperforming their 0.6 expected goals. It was the opposite for Leeds who had an xG of 2.6, showing that if the Whites are clinical on Saturday, it could be a very different result.

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