Leeds United achieved a 2-0 victory against Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in a pre-season friendly at Elland Road. The match saw goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, marking the team’s third consecutive win under manager Daniel Farke.
The first goal for Leeds came in the seventh minute. A run by Joe Rodon led to a square ball, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted. The friendly match was structured with two 60-minute halves, and several substitutions were made for the second period.
Key Performances and Goals
In the second half, three substitutes combined to score Leeds United‘s second goal. Lukas Nmecha delivered a clinical finish following good play from Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnonto.
Jaka Bijol, who captained Leeds United in the second half, commented on the team’s performance, stating that the hard work during the summer prepares the squad for the upcoming Premier League opener. He noted that while the win boosts confidence, points are earned in competitive matches, which begin in Nottingham.
Bijol also reflected on his first year with the club, expressing his enjoyment and growth as both a player and a person. He emphasised the special nature of his experience in England.
Team Outlook Ahead of Season
The friendly against RB Leipzig followed earlier victories for Daniel Farke‘s side against Sunderland and Liverpool. These pre-season results contribute to the team’s preparation for the new campaign.
The performance of younger players during pre-season was also highlighted by Bijol, who noted their dedication in training. He believes that the contributions of both younger and more experienced players are crucial for the team’s overall effectiveness.
Other friendly matches played on the same day included Club Brugge losing to Beerschot, Lokeren defeating Umm Salal, and Augsburg securing a win against Sassuolo. Bayer Leverkusen also won against Sevilla, while Freiburg beat Strasbourg. Köln defeated Real Sociedad, and Ipswich Town won against Rayo Vallecano. Lens lost to Sunderland, Mainz 05 beat Paris FC, and Olympiakos Nicosia lost to Omonia 29is Maiou. Rennes lost to Brentford, Schalke 04 lost to Atalanta, Sporting de Gijón lost to Real Valladolid, and Stuttgart defeated Everton. Lorient lost to Angers, Merelbeke lost to Lierse SK, and Dender lost to Knokke. Eupen lost to Seraing, Saumur and Le Mans drew, and Troyes and Auxerre drew. Virtus Entella lost to Carrarese, Brest and Venezia drew, and Coventry City defeated Espanyol. APOEL and Kifisia drew, Burgos and Cultural Leonesa drew with Burgos winning on penalties, Castellón lost to Levante, and Leganés and Tenerife drew with Tenerife winning on penalties. Sporting Hasselt defeated Belisia Bilzen, Antequera lost to Granada, and Osasuna lost to Al Ain. Avellino and Torino drew with Torino winning on penalties, Cagliari and Nice drew with Cagliari winning on penalties, and Forlì and Cesena drew. Gimnàstic Tarragona and Girona drew, Real Betis and Bournemouth drew, and Real Oviedo defeated Le Havre. Genoa lost to Deportivo de A Coruña, Livorno and Empoli drew, Mallorca and Elversberg drew, and Napoli and Celta Vigo drew. Valencia lost to Newcastle United, Cádiz lost to Las Palmas, Huesca II and Cuarte drew, and Alcorcón and Navalcarnero drew. Cartagena LU II and UD Los Garres drew, Karlovac 1919 defeated Lučko, and Lumezzane defeated Crema. UCAM Murcia defeated Orihuela, Excelsior Maassluis defeated Sparta Rotterdam II, GVVV defeated DVS ’33, and Genemuiden and HHC drew. IJsselmeervogels defeated EVV, Noordwijk lost to De Treffers, and ADO ’20 defeated Koninklijke HFC. AlbinoLeffe defeated Scanzorosciate, SOA defeated Medeama, and Latte Dolce lost to Torres. Salernitana defeated Sambiase, Bjelovar and Radnik Križevci drew, and Bratstvo Gračanica defeated Sloboda Tuzla. Cittadella defeated Luparense, and Grosseto defeated Terranuova Traiana. Pineto and Atletico Ascoli drew.
The match results from Saturday, 8th August, indicate a busy day of friendly fixtures across various leagues.
Source: bbc.co.uk