Notebook - Spurs v Leeds

Following the final international break of 2021, we return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as we host Leeds United (4.30pm kick-off).

Ahead of the clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, here’s a look at all the key points of note…

1 - Antonio’s home league debut

This Sunday will mark Antonio’s first home league game in charge of the Club. Since being appointed as our Head Coach at the start of the month, Antonio has overseen two games so far - his first our 3-2 Europa Conference League win over Vitesse at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before his first Premier League game saw us draw 0-0 at Everton last time out. Against Leeds though, it will be the first time the Italian has seen our home in full pomp with a crowd of around 60,000 expected.

2 - Conte and Bielsa – the first meeting

This will be the first time that Antonio has faced Marcelo Bielsa in a competitive game. Despite having both held managerial jobs almost exclusively within Europe’s top five leagues over the last decade, the famed supremos have yet to take on each other. The two coaches have met previously though, with them both having attended the Panchina d’Oro – a ceremony which crowns the Italian coach of the year - in 2015.

3 - Friends and foes

While it will be the first competitive meeting of Antonio and Bielsa this weekend, there are plenty within our ranks who have connections to Leeds players. Beginning in defence, Emerson Royal was part of the Real Betis squad in 2018/19 which included the Whites’ Junior Firpo. The full-back also plays alongside compatriot and Leeds forward Raphinha for the Brazilian national team. Sergio Reguilon, meanwhile, has been involved in the Spain national team set-up with Diego Llorente.

Staying in defence, duo Ben Davies and Joe Rodon also have a connection in the Leeds squad with winger Daniel James an international team-mates of theirs. Joe, Ben and James all came through the Swansea City youth system while Joe has played with James at youth and senior level for both the Swans and Wales. Finally, Oliver Skipp plays alongside Leeds’ Charlie Cresswell and Sam Greenwood for England Under-21s.

4 - Early season difficulties

Having been away from England’s top flight for 16 years, Leeds enjoyed an impressive first season back in the Premier League as, last term, they finished comfortably inside the top half, achieving their highest finish since the 2001/02 season.

However, so far this year, it has been far from ideal for the Whites as, after 11 games, they sit just two points above the relegation places in 15^th. Beginning the campaign with a 5-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, that defeat kick started a six-game winless run before they picked up their first three points against Watford last month. That result has appeared to turn around the Yorkshire side’s fortunes though as they have lost just once since, winning two and drawing two.

5 - Conte’s Yorkshire record

Antonio Conte might not have taken on Leeds United in a competitive game in his career to date, but his record against teams from Yorkshire in general is a very strong one. So far in his matches against sides from the northern county - the largest in the country - the Italian remains unbeaten. In seven games against Yorkshire-based clubs (Hull City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town), Antonio has remained undefeated and has won all but one of those encounters, that was a 1-1 draw to Huddersfield in May, 2018 - his last such game. Five clean sheets have also been kept in those seven matches.

6 - A century of encounters

While this will be Antonio’s first-ever game against Leeds, it will be our 100^th. Since our first meeting in October, 1924 – five years after the Whites’ founding – at Elland Road, we have taken on the Yorkshire side 99 times, winning 37 of those (including five of the last seven), drawing 29 and losing 33. While our Head Coach may have never faced Leeds, it is worth noting that in his top-flight managerial career to date, he has registered at least one victory against each of the 53 teams he has faced.

7 - Home comforts

We come into this game with a strong run of home results against Leeds having not lost to the Yorkshire side on our own turf in over two decades. Facing the Whites five times in N17 over the last 20 years, we have won four and drawn once (a 2-2 FA Cup fourth round draw in January, 2010). The four victories came in each of our last four home Premier League meetings with our last league defeat in N17 to Leeds coming in February, 2001 - a 2-1 defeat with Les Ferdinand scoring our only goal. Last season we overcame Sunday’s visitors 3-0 in north London with goals from Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Toby Alderweireld. We haven’t drawn any of our last 15 home games, winning nine and losing six.

9 - Leeds in London

While their recent record in north London is a disappointing one, Leeds have struggled in general in the capital over the last decade. Their last visit did see them triumph, defeating Fulham 2-1 back in March, however, they haven’t won back-to-back games here since April, 2008 – at the time, they were a League One side and earned victories over Leyton Orient and Millwall.

10 - Nemesis Rodrigo

One man to watch out for in the opposition’s ranks is Rodrigo. The Brazilian forward, who joined Leeds from Valencia upon their return to the Premier League in the summer 2020, has a habit of scoring against us. The former Bolton Wanderers loanee might have turned out against us on just three occasions to date, however, he has scored twice against us in those encounters - once in his first game against us (a 3-1 Europa League round of 16 defeat to Benfica at White Hart Lane in March, 2014) before he then struck in May’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds at Elland Road, having been on the pitch for just five minutes.