Leeds beat Leipzig 2-0 at Elland Road as Rodon role, Bijol minutes and youngsters impress | OneFootball

Leeds United beat RB Leipzig 2-0 at Elland Road, with goals in each half from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. It was their third straight pre-season win and a first back on home turf.

A crowd of 24,630 saw a rapid start as Joe Rodon broke wide on the right and crossed for Calvert-Lewin inside seven minutes. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk highlights three key takeaways from the display.

On the teamsheet Harry Wilson was a right winger, yet he drifted into a No 10 role behind Calvert-Lewin as Bogle pushed high and Rodon stepped wide. The tweak mirrored December’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace and worked smoothly again.

Half-time changes initially slowed the tempo. Jaka Bijol, back from a small injury, was among six introductions and slotted into the central centre-back role between James Justin and Tarik Muharemovic, the new combination looking assured.

Leeds then pieced together a slick move that Nmecha finished, with Rhys Chadwick involved before Aaronson released Gnonto to cross. Bijol and Muharemovic dovetailed to keep the defence solid.

Academy prospects Jayden Lienou, Callum Mills, Alfie Cresswell and Chadwick all showed confidence, Lienou and Mills repeatedly combining down the left to open Leipzig and Cresswell staying calm in a two-v-three counter with Bijol. The caveat is that this was pre-season, with pace and physicality below Premier League levels.

Rodon’s advanced positioning remains one to watch as Wilson settles into his new surroundings.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

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