Leeds vs Norwich Preview at 23:30 on March 08, FA Cup Round of 16

Preview and odds analysis for Leeds vs Norwich at 23:30 on March 08. Predictions for the result, expected lineups, and expert analysis for the match between Leeds United and Norwich City in the FA Cup fifth round.

Match Preview: Leeds vs Norwich

Leeds United will host Norwich City at Elland Road on Sunday evening in the FA Cup fifth round of the 2025-26 season. The home team aims to advance further in England's oldest competition, as they seek their first major trophy since the beginning of this century.

Leeds won the FA Cup in the 1971-72 season, and this year's campaign is seen as a good opportunity to replicate that achievement. On their journey to the fifth round, manager Daniel Farke's side overcame two Championship representatives, Derby County and Birmingham City. Notably, the match against Birmingham in the previous round was highly tense, as Leeds required a penalty shootout to secure progression after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

However, Leeds' recent form in the Premier League has not been particularly encouraging. They have just suffered two consecutive defeats against Manchester City and Sunderland, both with a 0-1 scoreline at their home ground, Elland Road. This marks the first time since late November that the Yorkshire club has lost two consecutive matches in England's top-flight league.

This ineffective streak has left Leeds currently positioned 15th in the Premier League standings, with only a three-point gap from the relegation zone. Their attacking line is also facing issues, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin has failed to score in his last four matches, contrasting with his earlier explosive period where the striker netted seven goals in six games.

On the other side, Norwich City is one of the teams with the best form in the Championship. Manager Philippe Clement's squad has won nine of their last 11 matches across all competitions. Nevertheless, they still trail the playoff group by 12 points, making their chances of competing for a promotion spot quite fragile.

In the FA Cup, Norwich impressed strongly by defeating Walsall 5-1 in the third round before overcoming West Brom with a 3-1 score to advance to the fifth round. This team also boasts a notable away record, winning five of their last six away fixtures, including challenging matches against Wrexham and QPR.

Despite Norwich's very positive form, Leeds is still rated higher due to squad quality and home advantage. Furthermore, head-to-head history is heavily tilted towards the Elland Road side, as Norwich has failed to win against Leeds in eight consecutive matches since 2021.

With advantages in caliber and Premier League experience, Leeds is likely to control the match tempo. Norwich could pose significant challenges, but the home team is still expected to secure a victory to progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Squad Status for Leeds vs Norwich

Leeds: Noah Okafor is absent due to a hamstring injury. Some backup players like Joel Piroe, Dan James, and Wilfried Gnonto may be given starting opportunities.

Norwich: Jovon Makama and Mohamed Toure are injured and unavailable. Shane Duffy and Harry Amass are also absent. Ante Crnac and Mirko Topic are sidelined for the season due to knee injuries.

Expected Lineups for Leeds vs Norwich

Leeds: Perri; Struijk, Bijol, Bornauw; James, Tanaka, Longstaff, Gudmundsson; Stach, Piroe, Nmecha.

Norwich: Grimshaw; Stacey, McConville, Darling, Fisher; Wright, Field, Gibbs, Maghoma, Ahmed; Kvistgaarden.

Recent Form of Leeds

04/03/2026: Leeds 0-1 Sunderland (Premier League)

01/03/2026: Leeds 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League)

21/02/2026: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds (Premier League)

15/02/2026: Birmingham 1-1 Leeds (Leeds wins on penalties) (FA Cup)

11/02/2026: Chelsea 2-2 Leeds (Premier League)

Recent Form of Norwich

28/02/2026: Leicester 0-2 Norwich (Championship)

26/02/2026: Norwich 2-0 Sheffield Wed (Championship)

21/02/2026: Norwich 1-2 Birmingham (Championship)

14/02/2026: Norwich 3-1 West Brom (FA Cup)

11/02/2026: Oxford Utd 0-3 Norwich (Championship)

Recent Head-to-History between Leeds and Norwich

23/01/2025: Leeds 2-0 Norwich (Championship)

02/10/2024: Norwich 1-1 Leeds (Championship)

17/05/2024: Leeds 4-0 Norwich (Championship)

12/05/2024: Norwich 0-0 Leeds (Championship)

25/01/2024: Leeds 1-0 Norwich (Championship)

Prediction for the Leeds vs Norwich Result

Norwich is in very good form, but facing a Premier League opponent away from home is a significant challenge. Leeds, with a higher-quality squad and home advantage, is assessed as having the capability to secure progression.

Predicted Score: Leeds 2-1 Norwich