What Leeds United need to do to win the Championship title

Leeds United have enjoyed a week of celebration but they are yet to defeat Burnley in a tight Championship title race that will go to the final day of the season.

After an exhausting and emotionally charged season, Leeds United stand on the cusp of completing their return to the top flight in spectacular fashion—with the chance to secure the EFL Championship title on the very last day of the campaign.

Manager Daniel Farke has already masterminded the club’s automatic promotion to the Premier League, a milestone that sparked jubilant celebrations across the city of Leeds throughout the past week. But there was no evidence of complacency when the team stepped back onto the pitch on Easter Monday.

In a dominant display against Bristol City, Leeds delivered a performance worthy of champions, crushing their opponents 4-0. Midfield dynamo Ao Tanaka and winger Willy Gnonto both found the net before super-sub Largie Ramazani entered the fray to score twice, rounding off an emphatic win and ensuring that the race for the Championship crown remains alive.

Meanwhile, promotion rivals Burnley, under the stewardship of Scott Parker, also sealed their Premier League status on Easter Monday with a crucial win over Sheffield United. They maintained their momentum by ruthlessly dismantling Queens Park Rangers in a 5-0 thrashing, briefly nudging ahead of Leeds in the standings.

With both clubs now level on points heading into the final matchday, the Championship title will be decided in dramatic fashion. Each side has one more challenge to overcome, and the pressure is immense.

Here’s a closer look at how the final fixtures for Leeds and Burnley compare as they prepare for a title shootout that promises a thrilling climax to the season.

Who Leeds United and Burnley face on the final day of the season

The curtain is set to fall on the 2024–25 Championship season this Saturday, May 3, with all 12 decisive fixtures scheduled to kick off simultaneously at 12:30 p.m. It’s shaping up to be a nail-biting conclusion, especially at the top of the table where Leeds United and Burnley remain neck and neck in the title race.

For Leeds, the final hurdle of the campaign will also be their most logistically demanding. Daniel Farke’s side faces their longest away trip of the season—a punishing 606-mile round journey—to take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. On paper, the fixture initially appeared to be a favourable one. Plymouth have lingered near the bottom of the table for much of the season, battling relegation and lacking consistency.

However, the Green Army made a spirited attempt to escape the drop, stringing together four wins in their last six matches to mount a late charge for survival. Despite their efforts, the odds have turned against them. A series of unfavourable results elsewhere has left Plymouth effectively relegated, with their inferior goal difference acting as the final nail in the coffin. As a result, Saturday’s clash carries far less intensity for the home side—something Leeds will hope to exploit.

In contrast, Burnley have a more formidable task on their hands. Scott Parker’s squad will host Millwall, a side known for their grit and determination—and one that still has everything to play for. Millwall currently sit just outside the play-off spots and could clinch a place in the post-season if they manage to better the results of either Coventry City or Bristol City.

With promotion on the line for Millwall, Leeds fans will be hoping the Lions bring that hunger and tenacity to Turf Moor. Their fierce competitiveness might just be enough to derail Burnley and hand Leeds the edge in the race for the Championship title.

All eyes will be on both matches as the clock ticks down on what has been an intense, drama-filled season. One final twist remains—and the destination of the Championship trophy is still anyone’s guess.

What Leeds United need to do to win the Championship title

As the Championship season reaches its thrilling climax, the equation for Leeds United is refreshingly straightforward: win on Saturday, and the title is theirs.

Leeds and Burnley both stand a chance of finishing the campaign with 100 points if they each secure victory in their final fixtures. However, Leeds’ commanding advantage in goal difference means that even if Burnley matches them on points, it would almost certainly be Daniel Farke’s men who are crowned champions.

The stakes are equally clear in the case of a draw. If both sides are held, Leeds’ superior numbers should still secure the title. But the danger lies in one scenario—should Burnley claim all three points while Leeds drop any, the crown will slip from West Yorkshire to Turf Moor.

Such an outcome would add a bittersweet note to Monday’s planned open-top bus parade in Leeds. While promotion celebrations will go on regardless, lifting the Championship trophy in front of their supporters is a moment the team and fans are desperate not to miss.

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