Leeds United 2 RB Leipzig 0: Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha goals bring third straight Whites win — YEP 8/8/26

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By Kyle Newbould

Leeds United put on an impressive 120-minute show at Elland Road with both strikers on the scoresheet.

Leeds United enjoyed a successful return to home turf with a 2-0 pre-season win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road on Saturday.

Goals in either 60-minute half from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha capped off another impressive performance from the Whites. A defensive unit led by standouts Joe Rodon, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Tarik Muharemovic reduced visitors Leipzig to very little in terms of chances.

Farke named a strong team for the first Elland Road friendly of the summer, with Harry Wilson and Muharemovic both getting their first tastes of Elland Road in a Leeds shirt. Calvert-Lewin also got his first start of pre-season after scoring twice against Liverpool.

Leeds started well and had an early goal ruled out, with referee Craig Pawson signalling for handball following a scramble from a corner that ricocheted into the Leipzig net. Their opener did arrive inside seven minutes, with Rodon charging forward into a right-wing position and crossing for Calvert-Lewin to score from close range.

Daniel James came close just before the half-hour mark, latching onto a nice Sean Longstaff ball in behind but dragging his shot wide of Maarten Vandervoort’s near post. Alex Cairns was forced into his first proper save just after the first hydration break, getting low to deny Max Finkgrafe from 20 yards.

Longstaff then found Calvert-Lewin with an inch-perfect free-kick from deep on the left-hand side, but the striker’s header was straight at the goalkeeper. Wilson was next to see a good chance pass by, opening up his body but slicing a right-footed effort over the crossbar after a James Justin cut-back from the left.

Farke made six changes for the second hour, with Jaka Bijol getting his first pre-season minutes.. The Slovenian, Jayden Lienou, Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka, Brenden Aaronson and Nmecha replaced Bornauw, Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Longstaff, James and Calvert-Lewin.

Wilson had the first opening eight minutes after those changes, his left-footed effort from the edge of the box well blocked after Tanaka won possession high up the pitch. Aaronson then burst through on goal down the right but dragged an effort wide of the far post in what was a golden chance.

Farke introduced Willy Gnonto and a handful of youngsters midway through the second period, with half-time substitute Lienou and Callum Mills both impressing. Gnonto saw a decent shot blocked from inside the area after a good spell of pressure shortly after the hydration break.

The Italian then slid Aaronson in with a lovely ball in the 100th minute but the American’s pass across goal was just out of reach for a stretching Nmecha. The substitute striker did get his goal just minutes later, finishing off a brilliant move at the near post after some great link-up play from substitute Rhys Chadwick, Aaronson and finally Gnonto.

There was enough time for Alex Cairns to produce a fine save to deny Leipzig from close range, sticking a foot out to earn chants from the Elland Road crowd of ‘England’s No.1’. Cresswell also struck the crossbar with a good header from a Stach corner before the full-time whistle blew.

Leeds have just a few days to rest and recover before their next friendly, which is against Premier League rivals Manchester United in Dublin on Wednesday evening. They then round off pre-season at home to FC Augsburg next weekend before the 2026/27 campaign kicks off at Nottingham Forest on Saturday August 22.

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