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2025/2026 SEASON ●Premier League ●League Cup ●FA Cup ●Friendly
date	versus	h/a	att.	result				h-t	TV	info	referee	pens		s/o	kit	links
19-Jul	Manchester United	Nat Strawberry Arena (Stockholm)	45,345	D	0	-	0	(0-0)		▼	A.Ladebäck					LUTV
Overview After friendly defeats to "them" in 2019 and 2023, this represented a respectable outcome for Scandinavian fans of the Yorkshire United. Tactics •27m Following a drinks break, Diallo and Collyer swapped positions (Manchester) •46m Gruev to DM, Longstaff on at LM (Leeds) •77m Shift to 4-2-3-1 with Piroe to CAM, Gray on at CF (Leeds) Captains •Captains in the second half were Maguire and then Dalot for Manchester and Struijk for Leeds Trivia •Crew wore a shirt with non-standard name and numbering suggesting it was prepared at short notice (Leeds)
22-Jul	SC Verl	A	n/a	W	4	-Piroe 25, 40p Gnonto 76 Nmecha 91 Arweiler 119	1	(2-0)		▼	H.Schröder	•●Piroe 40				LUTV
Overview As in 2024, German police would not sanction fans at Leeds' pre-season training games and no details of fixtures could be revealed until after the final whistle. This meeting with third-tier opponents was played out over two hours. Each half was itself split by a drinks break and the stadium scoreboard clock was reset to 30:00 on the resumptions. By contrast LUTV left their timer running which may explain any apparent inconsistencies over match event timings. There were two interesting, but correct, refereeing decisions. The first was the initially perplexing penalty award for Leeds when Ens bent down to place the ball after his keeper tapped it to him, thinking it was a goal-kick. Then just before half-time, Alex Cairns was penalised for not releasing the ball within eight seconds which now results in a corner to the opposing side. Tactics •91m Tanaka to DM, Chadwick on at CAM (Leeds) Captains •Stark was captain for Verl when they changed their entire team for the final quarter •Ampadu, naturally, was captain for Leeds in the second-half
26-Jul	SC Paderborn 07	A	n/a	W	3	-Piroe 30 Gnonto 55 Nmecha 79 Grimaldi 74 Baur 89	2	(1-0)		▼	H.Schröder					LUTV
Overview Leeds stepped up their preparations for the Premier League season with a good workout against 2. Bundesliga opposition, who included Daniel Farke's son (Luis Engelns) in their midfield. Tactics •46m Bijol to RCB, Struijk on at LCB (Leeds) •60m Subtle shift to 4-2-3-1 with Aaronson more advanced in the new midfield trio (Leeds) •71m Shift to 4-4-2 with Curda to RB, Scheller slight change to LCB, Obermair to LB, Wörner on at RM, Baur on at LM, Bilbija operating mainly on the left of a front two with the oncoming Grimaldi (Paderborn) •76m Return to 4-3-3 with Byram to RB, Harrison to LB, Aaronson to RW, Crew on at RM (Leeds) Captains •Struijk took over as captain when Ampadu was subbed (Leeds)
02-Aug	Villarreal	H	35,273	D	1	-Piroe 67 Eyong 62	1	(0-0)		▼	S.Barrott					LUTV
Overview A sell-out crowd went home reasonably content that defeat was averted by Piroe's poaching but the paucity of chances created, raised concerns over the lack of attacking signings to date. Tactics •46m Stach to RM, Gruev on at LM (Leeds) •74m Pedraza on at LB, Moleiro to LM, Cabanes on as a CF (Villarreal) Captains •Parejo took the armband when Moreno went off (Villarreal)
09-Aug	Milan	Nat Aviva Stadium (Dublin)	51,700	D	1	-Stach 67 Giménez 31	1	(0-1)	Premier Sports	▼	P.McLaughlin					LUTV
Overview Although Milan had the better of the first half and led at the break, a more front-footed approach from Leeds thereafter bore fruit when Stach's cross-shot found the net. The goal was met with raucous delight by United's large Irish support base, who had helped turn the Aviva Stadium into a sea of yellow, white and blue. With Lucas Perri making his debut and Illan Meslier left at home, it was clear that the French keeper's time at Elland Road was drawing to a close after six years. Tactics •46m Magni to RWB, Coubiș on at RCB (Milan) •61m Okafor to CF, Sia on at LW (Milan) •89m Longstaff to LM, Aaronson to RM, Gray on at RW (Leeds) Captains •Struijk and then Rodon assumed the captaincy when the position was rendered vacant by substitutions (Leeds)
18-Aug	Everton	H	36,820	W	1	-Nmecha 84p	0	(0-0)	Sky	▼	C.Kavanagh	•●Nmecha 84				►	BBC	WS?
Overview Though it was a game of few clear chances and the handball decision against Everton skipper Tarkowski split opinion, few could contest it was a deserved three points for Leeds on their Premier League return. It was also their fifth win in a row when playing on a Monday. Tactics •71m Dewsbury-Hall to DM (but more attacking than Iroegbunam had been), Alcaraz to CAM, Ndiaye to RW, Grealish on at LW (Everton) •78m Aaronson to RW, Harrison on at LW (Leeds) Captains •Struijk took over when Ampadu went off (Leeds)
23-Aug	Arsenal	A	60,110	L	0	-Timber 34, 56 Saka 45+1 Gyökeres 48, 90+5p	5	(0-2)	Sky	▼	J.Gillett		•●Gyökeres 90+5			►	BBC	WS?
Overview Though the first half hour was negotiated without concession and a Struijk header could even have given them the lead, ultimately Leeds were as outclassed as they might have feared. Tactics •Although nominally the two teams matched up with 4-3-3 formations, Arsenal employed Calafiori (and later Lewis-Skelly) as an inverted full-back stepping into central midfield to create a 3-2-2-3 in possession •Forced into a largely rearguard action, Leeds became 4-1-4-1 with James and Gnonto dropping back to support their full-backs •53m Madueke to RW, Trossard on at LW (Arsenal) Captains •The armband seemed to be cursed with injuries sustained by both Ødegaard (shoulder) and Saka (hamstring) meaning Gabriel became the third player to wear it (Arsenal)
26-Aug	Sheffield Wednesday	A	7,801	D	1	-2nd Round LOST ON PENS 0-3 Bogle 81 Darlow 63og	1	(0-0)	Sky	▼	R.Jones					►	BBC	WS?
Overview A surreal evening at Hillsborough with two stands empty due to a boycott in protest at Owls' owner Dejphon Chansiri. With the home side also including nine Under 21 players in their starting line-up, it ought to have been a routine assignment for the experienced professionals in Farke's admittedly much-changed team. Unfortunately they treated it like a training exercise, dominating possession but showing very little urgency until falling behind following a goalkeeping blunder. Bogle forced home an equaliser but a number of chances for a winner were passed up so there was an air of inevitability about the shoot-out outcome, if not that it would be concluded in just six kicks. Tactics •84m Gnonto to LW, James on at RW (Leeds) Captains •Ugbo took the armband from Lowe when replacing him and wore it until the final whistle but Bannan participated in the formalities before the penalties (Sheffield Wednesday) •Piroe took over when Byram was substituted (Leeds)
30-Aug	Newcastle United	H	36,727	D	0	-	0	(0-0)	Sky	▼	P.Bankes					►	BBC	WS?
Overview After two disappointing performances, this was an encouraging point against technically superior opponents. With precious few chances, the entertainment came from some intriguing duels - notably between Botman and Nmecha as Leeds were often quite direct in their approach. Tactics •46m Guimarães to LM, Miley on at RM (Newcastle) •62m Livramento to RWB, Hall on at LWB (Newcastle) •68m Shift to 4-3-3 with Elanga slight change to RW, Barnes on at LW (Newcastle) Trivia •Aaronson should have been the first sub on but was receiving tactical instructions as James came to the touchline so Harrison went on ahead of him (Leeds) •The fourth official's board displayed the number "23" rather than "24" when James Justin came on for his debut (Leeds)