Leeds United faced French Ligue 1 side Monaco at Elland Road in their final friendly before the Premier League returns next week.
The home side started the game really well, much as they had done in the previous two friendly games. Brenden Aaronson was buzzing around the Monaco defence and chasing everything down. The hosts nearly took the lead in the first few minutes when Sam Greenwood whipped in a perfect ball across the six-yard box to Joe Gelhardt who slid in to apply the final touch but the ball squirmed just wide. After more possession for Leeds in the opponent’s half, Aaronson again raced forward and caused problems, eventually winning a corner. Marc Roca whipped the ball in for Robin Koch to rise in a crowded area and glance a header into the net, 1-0.
It was all pressure from the hosts now, Monaco being kept at arms bay and forced to try and gain something with long crosses that were easy for the Leeds defence to mop up. Koch and Pascal Struijk, who today signed a new contract with the club, were under no pressure from the away side, defending at a canter and looking to get the second goal of the game with Marc Roca spraying the ball around the middle and Willy Gnonto trying to make something happen out wide. Shortly after, the second goal did come, but not the way we all expected. Monaco, on a rare foray forward, crossed the ball to the back post for the unmarked Aleksandr Golovin to nod the ball down to Breel Embolo to lash a strike into the net via a small deflection past Kristoffer Klaesson, 1-1.
Leeds continued to take the game to Monaco and were nearly in front as Rasmus Kristensen broke into the box but with men at the back post, the defender decided to shoot and forced the keeper into making a good save. Moments later Gelhardt had a great chance when Kristensen picked up the ball out on the right and swung a cross into the box but the striker just couldn’t stretch enough to make contact and the ball trickled harmlessly out of play. The host continued to drive forward, Willy Gnonto and Aaronson with some good passing and interchanges in and around the final third but couldn’t find the breakthrough and the half came to a close, 1-1.
The second half resumed with a couple of substitutions from both sides, Diego Llorente returning from a hand injury, replacing Robin Koch for Leeds. The away side were ahead within 90 seconds, Golovin played the first-time cross across the box for Gelson Martins to tap in from six yards, 1-2.
The home side started to struggle to keep the ball and it was clear to see, the early second-half goal had settled Monaco. Golovin again causing problems curled a 20-yarder, forcing Klaesson into a fine save, pushing the ball around the post. The resulting corner made it 1-3, Ismail Jakobs nodding into the net from close range. Leeds offered very little in the second half, the best chance coming in the 54th minute when Roca whipped a free-kick for Llorente to head over. Soon after, it was 1-4, and a period of awful defending saw the away side run away with it. Martins setting up Embolo for his second.
Leeds started to wake up, Gelhardt blazing over from the edge of the box, and a succession of corners for the home side. Gnonto then went on a fabulous run but his effort was blocked and squeezed out of play. Greenwood then had a free-kick that was hit well but went just over the top. Better from the home side, and with 10 minutes to go, Willy Gnonto unleashed a fierce drive from just outside the box but it flashed wide of the upright. Moments later Luke Ayling put a fantastic ball to the back post but Gnonto couldn’t jump high enough and his header went wide. Leeds rallied late on and in the 92nd minute, Gnonto was sent tumbling in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Gelhardt stepped up and smashed the ball in the top left corner, superb penalty and the keeper had no chance. That was the last of the action and the game finished, 2-4.
Jesse Marsch won’t be happy with his side’s defensive display in the second half but all in all, there has been some positives from the three friendlies. Match fitness and sharpness is the main thing from these games. Many players with valuable minutes under their belts, as we prepare for a tough game against Manchester City on December the 28th.