Credit: Manh Tung/Breaking Media

Scott Mason

Sat 4 April 2026 7:10, UK

Konstantinos Mavropanos will have a big role to play for West Ham United against Leeds United in order to keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin quiet.

The Hammers are hoping to qualify for the FA Cup semi-final with a win against relegation rivals Leeds on Sunday.

While this game will not directly affect the Premier League standings, the result could prove to be a boost for either side and a blow for the losing team.

Nuno Espirito Santo will not want his side to come out of this matchup with their spirits low ahead of the final seven games of the season.

West Ham’s game against Leeds could rely on individual performances thwarting the dangers that Daniel Farke’s side have, and Mavropanos will have his hands full.

How Konstantinos Mavropanos has aerial edge over Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin has scored six goals against West Ham in 14 appearances, so the Englishman is no stranger to netting against the Hammers.

Additionally, with his physical presence up top, Nuno’s defence must be strong in their battles across the match.

The Leeds striker is known for his ability to occupy defenders with his hold-up play and strength, and at 6’2″, he is also a threat in the air as well.

Out of his 10 Premier League goals, three of them have been headers.

However, when it comes to the battle in the air, Mavropanos may already have the advantage.

The Greek defender competes in roughly 3.5 aerial duels per game and boasts a 66 per cent win rate from those.

Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin contests 8.75 per game, winning 40 per cent of them, as per Sofascore. Although the striker is more active in aerial duels, Mavropanos does seem to be more proficient in winning them.

What did Dominic Calvert-Lewin do last time he faced West Ham?

Earlier in the Premier League season, Mavropanos did not come up against Calvert-Lewin due to injury, but the Englishman did not have the best of games, despite the Hammers ultimately losing.

The Leeds forward lost possession 15 times and won just five out of 16 aerial duels he competed in and was handed a 5.7 Sofascore rating.

On that day, Max Kilman won all eight of his aerial duels, and with a player like Mavropanos boasting more quality, you would expect the job of keeping Calvert-Lewin to be made easier.

Hopefully it is another tough fixture for the 29-year-old, and this time, the result does not land in the way of his side but Nuno’s quarter-final record provides plenty of hope for West Ham.