Premier League promotion race intensifies ahead of Easter Monday

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke. Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USA *** US Rights Only ***

Premier League promotion race intensifies ahead of crucial Easter Monday clashes

By Matt Evans | Last updated Apr 20, 2025 8:36 AM ET

The Championship promotion race is approaching a dramatic climax, with Easter Monday shaping up as a defining day for Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United.

With just three matches remaining, Leeds and Burnley, level at the summit on 91 points, stand on the brink of automatic promotion. Sheffield United, five points adrift, remains in contention but faces an uphill battle to avoid the playoffs.

Leeds took a significant step toward a Premier League return with a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Oxford United on Friday. Daniel Farke’s side, top on goal difference, is unbeaten in seven, and finding form at the perfect time.

It hosts Stoke City on Monday, knowing that three points, combined with a Sheffield United slip-up, could effectively seal its return to the top flight.

Burnley, under Scott Parker, continues to keep pace. Its 2-1 victory over Watford extended its unbeaten run to 30 league games, equaling a Championship record and keeping it locked at level with Leeds.

Now comes a crucial test. A showdown with Sheffield United that could all but confirm a fourth successive Premier League promotion from the second tier for the Clarets.

The top of the Championship could not be any tighter!

Leeds United and Burnley could both potentially win promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday. pic.twitter.com/1CEB5xY6J4
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 18, 2025

For Sheffield United, it’s win or bust. Anything less than victory at Turf Moor would almost certainly confine it to the playoffs. A run of three defeats in its last four has derailed its promotion charge, and Chris Wilder’s side must summon something special to keep its hopes alive.

Monday’s fixtures could scarcely be more finely balanced. Leeds welcomes mid-table Stoke to Elland Road, while Burnley and Sheffield United face off in a high-stakes, head-to-head battle.

Should Leeds win and Burnley avoid defeat, both could clinch promotion with two games to spare. But a Sheffield United victory would blow the race wide open heading into the final week.

As form, pressure and opportunity converge, Easter Monday promises to be one of the most consequential days of the Championship season. One that could send Leeds and Burnley back to the Premier League, or spark a dramatic late twist.

Matt Evans

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, now based in Paris, France. He has covered various sports including basketball, soccer, boxing, MMA, and motorsports. Over the past decade, Matt has focused heavily on the NBA and has worked with many established outlets on a variety of content

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