Report: Leeds United 1-1 AC Milan | OneFootball

Pre-season Friendly

Leeds United 1 (Stach 68’)

AC Milan 1 (Gimenez 31’)

Leeds: Perri (Darlow 45’) (GK), Gudmundsson (Harrison 75’), Ampadu (C) (Gruev 67’), Struijk (Bijol 75’), Rodon, James (Aaronson 67’), Piroe (Nmecha 67’), Stach, Tanaka (Longstaff 67’), Gnonto (Ramazani 75’), Schmidt (Byram 67’). Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Gray, Chadwick.

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Attendance: TBC

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Booked: Stach (Leeds)

Leeds United played their final pre-season friendly of the summer against AC Milan at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The sold out crowd saw a goal in each half, as the teams played out an entertaining draw.

In a last warm-up before the Premier League opener against Everton, Daniel Farke named a strong starting XI. A debut was handed to new goalkeeper Lucas Perri, who was joined in the line-up by two fellow summer recruits.

The defensive positions were occupied by Isaac Schmidt, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon and Gabi Gudmundsson, whilst captain Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach and Ao Tanaka locked down the midfield area. In attack, Joel Piroe was supported by Dan James and Willy Gnonto either side of him.

It would be our Italian international who caused problems early on, Latching onto a ball over the top, Gnonto looked to chip Pietro Terracciano in the AC net, but the ‘keeper was equal to it. Moments later he turned provider, carving out a chance for Stach, who cannoned an effort against the crossbar.

However, with their first real opening of the match, it would be the Serie A side who went into the lead. A ball across the box took a deflection and landed kindly into the path of Santiago Gimenez to slot home at close range.

Leeds saw plenty of the ball as the half wore on and looked to threaten. Half-chances came and went though, as again Stach went close, forcing Terracciano into a good save before the whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 AC Milan

Just the one change came at the interval for the Whites, as Karl Darlow came on between the posts in place of Perri.

Looking to get back on level terms and in control of the ball once more, Farke saw his side pushing forward. A goalmouth scramble nearly saw Gnonto turn home, before moments later, Piroe struck just past the post.

With 25 minutes to play, Leeds made five further changes. Introduced were Brenden Aaronson, Lukas Nmecha, Sam Byram, Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff.

Backed as always by a sea of white, yellow and blue, the crowd had been lively throughout and were rewarded with a superb individual strike to level the scores!

Stach had threatened the Milan goal during the opening 45 minutes and this time struck from out wide, unleashing an unstoppable effort which powerfully flew into the far corner to delight the large majority inside the ground.

After the leveller, late efforts came once more from each side as they looked for a winner as well as more substitutions, but no further goals arrived meaning the game end all-square.

The full-time whistle ended a productive pre-season for the Whites and all attention now turns to Elland Road next Monday evening, when they take on Everton in a first game of the 2025/26 campaign.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 AC Milan