Call it a knock-about, call it a run-out, whatever you call it today’s game against Paços de Ferreira was a game of football. No team enters such a thing looking to just knock the ball about a bit. Well, not Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United sides.
It’s the same intensity, same football that you’d expect to find from all Bielsa’s sides, all Leeds sides and any combination of players regardless of the opposition. What fans are watching on LUTV is what fans will be seeing against Liverpool next Saturday when the Whites open their Premier League campaign in a champions-versus-champions clash.
The visitors from Portugal are top-tier opposition and, despite struggles last season, were expected to give a strong-ish Leeds United side a run for their money this afternoon at Thorp Arch.
The game: Leeds United 3 – 1 Paços de Ferreira
Leeds were in the ascendency early on in the first half and pushed at their Portuguese visitors as they probed for openings. The visitors weren’t mugs and pushed back looking for opportunities of their own. Indeed, it was the Liga NOS side who went ahead as the game neared half-time.
37' The visitors take the lead against the run of play, as Lucas Silva converts a low pass across the face of goal from Joao Amaral. 0-1
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 5, 2020
That lead lasted just two minutes before Dutch youngster, Pascal Struijk, restored parity.
STRUIJK goal #lufc pic.twitter.com/HDR3IAk2tD
— WALMOT (@WALMOTtv) September 5, 2020
That was the score at the half-time whistle and it was a fair reflection of the opening half of the game. The intensity that fans would have wanted was there and even more obvious at the start of the second half. Leeds continued to press and were soon rewarded with a goal for El Mago Hernandez.
Hernandez 🎯 #lufc pic.twitter.com/nMP2QwkQDM
— WALMOT (@WALMOTtv) September 5, 2020
That strike from outside the area is typical of what Leeds United fans have come to expect from the mercurial Spaniard over the last three seasons. What also continued to impress was the link-up play of Patrick Bamford. It was United’s top-scorer from last season who set up Helder Costa for Leeds United’s 3rd and, ultimately, the final goal of the afternoon.
Costa 3-1 #lufc pic.twitter.com/Ek4LhkIIpd
— WALMOT (@WALMOTtv) September 5, 2020
With the last 90 minutes under their belts, all eyes will now turn to training and that not-so-little game against Liverpool at the weekend.
