Championship Play-Off Final Odds: Southampton 19/20 to secure Premier League return after joining Leeds in Wembley showpiece

Leeds United and Southampton will lock horns at Wembley Stadium next weekend with an immediate return to the Premier League the reward for the winner.

Leeds are the narrow pre-match favourites at 4/5 after comprehensively brushing Norwich City aside in their two-legged semi-final affair, whilst the Saints - who eased past West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on aggregate - are 19/20.

Russell Martin's Southampton comfortably overcame West Bromwich Albion in the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Friday night, just 24 hours after Leeds had demolished a lacklustre Norwich side at Elland Road.

It's an intriguing final, with very little between the two sides in terms of the betting.

The Saints had laboured somewhat during the final weeks of the campaign, being beaten by Cardiff City, Leicester and Stoke City, but have since rediscovered their groove at a seemingly idyllic time.

It could be telling that the South Coast side edged a final day showdown with Leeds 2-1 in Yorkshire - a result that secured them a league double over Daniel Farke's men, having also won the return meeting at St Mary's 3-1 in the Autumn.

But both managers, and both sets of players, will know that will likely mean very little when the two Championship giants collide in the capital next Sunday.

For as poor as Norwich were on Thursday, Leeds were outstanding, with several of their key players - including Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and player of the season Crycensio Summerville - all on target as they eased past the Canaries.

But, somewhat concerningly, they do have history in play-off finals...

In each of their two appearances in the Championship final to date, they have been beaten. 3-2 across two-legs in the inaugural second-tier promotion shootout against Charlton Athletic back in 1987, and 3-0 by Watford 19 years later.

This will be an opportunity to right those wrongs however, and the perfect time to notch a first success over the Saints this season at what would be the third time of asking.

Leeds are 6/4 to win the tie in normal time, with Southampton, buoyed by their two 2023/24 successes over Farke's troops, a slightly longer 7/4.

It's worth noting that three of the last seven second-tier play-off finals have gone into extra-time, including last season's affair between Luton Town and Coventry City - and you can get 9/4 on this encounter being extended beyond the initial 90 minutes too.

The two sides netted 168 goals between them across the league phase of the campaign, and whilst goals could very well be on the cards at Wembley, there's every chance that the game is played out in a more cautious manner.

Just two goals have been scored in each of the last three finals, whilst you have to go back to 2011 for the last time more than three were scored - Swansea City's 4-2 triumph over Reading.

We're offering 4/5 on the two sides scoring three or more between them - just as they did earlier this month - whilst it's 2/1 that four or more goals are scored.

Goals or not, the clash is sure to provide plenty of drama with a top-flight return on the line.

Championship play-off final date

The Championship play-off final is scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 on Sunday 19th May at Wembley Stadium.