Leeds United took on Valencia at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon in their final pre-season game before the new Championship campaign.
After the disappointing result against Southampton in the Championship playoff final last season, Leeds will be doubly determined to get the job done in the regular campaign and get back into the Premier League this time around.
Leeds will head into the Championship season as one of the favourites to finish in the automatic promotion spots.
The opening game of the new league season for the West Yorkshire club is against Portsmouth at Elland Road on August 10.
Today’s match against Spanish club Valencia at Elland Road was the final build-up game for Daniel Farke’s side.
Leeds took on Harrogate Town in July and also took part in behind-closed-doors games in Germany,
Even though Valencia are a La Liga side, Leeds were better than them at Elland Road and deservedly won the game.
Below is our live coverage of the match.
Goodbye for now
And now, I would like to end our live coverage of the match between Leeds and Valencia. I hope that you enjoyed the coverage.
[Link]Michael Bridges wanted to take Georginio Rutter off
One of Leeds’s best players against Valencia was Georginio Rutter, but if Michael Bridges had his way, then he would have taken him off after 32 minutes.
Bridges was following the match live for LUTV and said: “I tell you what, I’d be subbing Georginio Rutter now, I’d be getting him off, because the amount of teams that are watching this performance, I don’t want to lose him before the season. What a player.”
[Link]Leeds United eye Sontje Hansen
While we wait for comments from Daniel Farke after the match to filter in, let’s take a look at one of the transfer stories related to Leeds. A report in the Dutch media has claimed that the Whites are one of the teams now interested in signing NEC Nijmegen winger Sontje Hansen.
Joy for Leeds players and fans
It may have been only a friendly, but that has not stopped the Leeds players and the fans from celebrating the win.
Leeds Player Ratings vs Valencia
We have compiled a Player Ratings piece for you here on Leeds United News.
Ethan Ampadu has scored 8 out of 10, and Mateo Joseph has got 8 as well. But the star of the show was Georginio Rutter. We have given him 9.
Want to see how the rest of the players fared, including Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle? Click here for the full Player Ratings.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Valencia
The referee has blown the final while. Leeds United have beaten La Liga club Valencia 2-1 at Elland Road. Although the Whites conceded late, they were in control from start to finish and were the better team.
[Link]Goal: Leeds United 2-1 Valencia
Valencia have pulled one back now in the final stages of the match. Martin Tejon hit the ball well from the edge of the box and found the back of the net.
[Link]More changes for Leeds
Crew has come on for Ampadu, and Debayo has replaced Firpo. Sam Chambers has come on and Rodon has gone off.
[Link]Leeds almost score a third goal
It was almost 3-0 to Leeds! Firpo got forward well from deep and fed Bamford down the left channel. The Leeds striker curled a nice low cross into the six-yard box. Although Ozkacar slid in and put it out for a corner, there was a chance that it could have gone in.
[Link]Patrick Bamford on for Leeds
Remember Patrick Bamford? The English striker is now on the pitch for Joseph. It is his first appearance since April 22.
More substitutions for Leeds
There have been more changes for Leeds. Wober has come on for Struijk, Rothwell has replaced Gruev, Piroe has gone on the pitch for James and Aaronson has been brought in for Gnonto.
[Link]Substitution for Leeds
Byram has come on for Bogle. The right-back was struggling and had Rodon asking for him to be taken off. He has looked a bit off for the last 10 or so minutes.
[Link]Second half: Leeds 2-0 Valencia
Leeds are up for it. They are going for every ball and are trying to make things happen. Valencia simply do not know how to deal with them.
RED CARD! Leeds 2-0 Valencia
Valencia are down to 10 men. Mir caught Firpo late and was booked for the second time in the game. And off he went.
[Link]Yellows galore in Leeds vs Valencia
There has been a quick succession of yellow cards. Mir and Ampadu go into the referee’s book for an off-the-ball issue., while Javi Guerra is shown a yellow card for catching Ampadu late.
[Link]Crysencio Summerville on his way to West Ham
While Leeds are doing well against Valencia at the moment, one player who is on his way out of the club is Crysencio Summerville. The winger is joining West Ham.
Second half: Leeds United 2-0 Valencia
The second half has begun now. Leeds are 2-0 in the lead
[Link]HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Valencia
It is half time at Elland Road, and Leeds are 2-0 up against Valencia. Daniel Farke’s side have been the better team and deservedly are in the lead.
[Link]Goal – Leeds United 2-0 Valencia
Leeds have scored again, and it is a thing of beauty! Joseph bumped a Valencia centre-back, Rutter got the ball and went into two-against-two with Joseph. Instead of passing the ball, Rutter jinked the last man and then dinked the ball over the Valencia goalkeeper and into the net. 2-0 to Leeds.
[Link]Ampadu is playing a clever game
Ampadu started the match in defensive midfield, but he is dropping in with the centre-backs and is looking for balls over the top for Rutter and James. He is being very clever.
[Link]Leeds go close to making it 2-0
Valencia are a La Liga club, but it is Leeds who are playing better and looking like a top-flight team. Rodon gets up to a corner and his header is palmed out by Dimitrievski. Rutter then slots in Gruev, and he wins another corner on the right.
[Link]Goal Leeds United 1-0 Valencia
Leeds United have taken the lead. Mateo Joseph is on target again. The move started with Firpo down the left, inside to Rutter, who flicked the ball into the air and over a defender and it was gathered by Firpo. Rutter got it back and his slide-rule pass into the box for Joseph saw the striker finish it smartly.
[Link]Leeds looking good vs Valencia
Leeds have been showing a lot of promise in the opening stages of the season. Joseph, Firpo and Gnonto linked up well to create a chance, but Grue’s attempt to play the left-back into the box was blocked.
[Link]Leeds United 0-0 Valencia
Valencia are attacking the Don Revie Stand. Leeds are playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
[Link]Leeds players happy to be back at Elland Road
Back at home and ready for the final pre-season game
Confirmed: Valencia XI vs Leeds United
Just 30 minutes to go before Leeds vs Valencia kicks off. And here is how the Spanish club will line up:
Very strong team
As you can see, it is a very strong lineup from Leeds. It is interesting that Mateo Joseph is starting today, just days before the new season starts.
Confirmed Leeds United Xi vs Valencia
Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has just announced the starting lineup against Valencia.
How to watch Leeds United vs Valencia
Kickoff is around 90 minutes away, so let’s now look at how you can watch it.
There will not be a television broadcast for the match between Leeds and Valencia, but there will be a live stream hosted by the English club’s dedicated streaming platform.
The match will be available via LUTV, which requires a valid account and paid subscription to view all of the action.
You can grab an LUTV subscription here.
[Link]Liam Cooper linked with Watford
Liam Cooper is no longer a Leeds player, but he is being linked with Watford now. Watford manager Tom Cleverley is reportedly a fan of the defender.
[Link]Leeds United are eyeing a Liverpool player
While we wait for the Leeds team news to come through, let’s look at some transfer stories. One story that is starting to make the rounds is Leeds’s interest in Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark.
Valencia are in bad shape
Valencia are one of the biggest clubs in Spain, but they have not been in great form lately. Los Che almost got relegated from La Liga at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, but last season they ended up ninth.
[Link]Impressing in pre-season
Let’s now look at how Leeds have been doing in their pre-season warm-up games.
After winning against Harrogate Town away from home, the West Yorkshire club travelled to Germany for a training camp.
After a 4-1 hammering of Hannover 96, Leeds beat Hannover’s fellow 2. Bundesliga side Schalke 2-0.
[Link]Predicted Leeds United XI
Kick off is still a while away, so let us now try to look at how Farke could set up his Leeds team.
I am expecting a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Illan Meslier; Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo; Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rothwell; Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, Brenden Aaronson; Mateo Joseph
Leeds United vs Valencia
Hello and welcome to our live blog for Leeds United vs Valencia. The pre-season friendly game will be held at Elland Road and is scheduled to kick off at 3 pm today.
Leeds will head into the match against Valencia on the back of an easy win against Harrogate Town in another pre-season friendly. It ended in a 3-0 win for Daniel Farke’s side. Junior Firpo, Georginio and Sam Chambers scored the goals for the Whites.
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