Leeds extended their unbeaten pre-season run after drawing 1-1 with AC Milan.
Daniel Farke’s side started quickly, Anton Stach cracking an effort off the crossbar and Willy Gnonto spurning a golden chance, but found themselves behind.
Right back Isaac Schmidt was caught out, and Santiago Gimenez arrived at the far post to finish a devilish cross on the half-hour mark.
The Whites dominated after the interval and earned their reward when Stach’s cross-shot fizzed through a crowd of bodies and nestled in the bottom corner.
Here, Daily Mail Sport reporter AADAM PATEL reveals five things he learned from this Saturday afternoon fixture at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
Leeds drew 1-1 with AC Milan in their final pre-season game at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Milan took the lead through Santiago Gimenez before Anton Stach bent home the equaliser
There were numerous positives for head coach Daniel Farke, as well as food for thought
Killer edge missing
Daniel Farke admitted last weekend that in attack, his side were not ready for the Premier League.
With Dan James back in the side, there was reason to be optimistic and Leeds started well with Wilfried Gnonto getting into some dangerous positions down the left flank.
Gnonto wasted a golden opportunity when he was through on goal but instead of squaring, ended up lobbing the ball straight into the hands of the Milan keeper.
Joel Piroe tested Pietro Terracciano on the brink of half-time but chances were few and far apart against a second-string Milan outfit. Leeds battled well but lacked that killer edge in the final third and Farke will be aware.
Leeds missed a clinical edge up front, with Wilfried Gnonto squandering a golden opportunity
Right back at square one
Jayden Bogle didn’t travel due to a hip injury and is a doubt for Leeds’ Premier League opener against Everton.
Worryingly for Farke, it was another shaky display from Isaac Schmidt at right-back, who lost the ball carelessly on a couple of occasions and struggled physically against the Milan players.
The Italian side relentlessly targeted Leeds’ right and their opening goal came from that side. Leeds are keen to add another full-back to their ranks and also have Sam Byram as an option for next Monday.
Depending on the severity of Bogle’s injury, it could be one of their most crucial investments in the coming weeks.
Isaac Schmidt delivered another shaky display and Leeds want to sign another full back
Stach up against the best
The biggest positive came in the form of a 6ft 4in German midfielder. Anton Stach was superb and showed exactly why Leeds were desperate to bring him in.
He linked up well with Gnonto and James, looked like he had all the time in the world in the middle of the park and came close to opening the scoring when he rattled the crossbar with his weaker foot. Off the ball, he was relentless and aerially, he was a force too winning headers from corners.
The 26-year-old was Leeds’ best player on the afternoon and he capped off a quality all-round display with a brilliant goal from outside the box.
You can see him playing a massive role this season.
Stach was superb in midfield and showed exactly why the Whites wanted to bring him in
End night for Meslier
For Illan Meslier, the end seems nigh for if it wasn’t already. The Frenchman wasn’t in the squad here and new signing Lucas Perri wore the number one jersey for Leeds.
Perri, who was signed from Lyon, started but didn’t make a save in the 45 minutes that he played but Leeds fans got a first sight of his enormous throws.
In fairness, the Brazilian could do nothing about the goal with Santiago Gimenez finishing emphatically. With Perri still not fully fit, Karl Darlow came on at half-time and is expected to be the back-up keeper.
It’s hard to see Meslier sticking around to be a third-choice keeper at the age of 25 but Leeds are yet to receive an offer.
The end looks nigh for Illan Meslier after he did not make the matchday squad against Milan
Harrison’s mixed reception
Less than a week before the Premier League kicks off and Jack Harrison is still a Leeds player. When Harrison came on, he was initially greeted to a chorus of boos from vast sections of the Leeds supporters inside the Aviva Stadium but during his short cameo, some of the fans decided to cheer back whenever he got the ball.
If anything, it was a sign of hope that all is not lost and should he start the campaign as a Leeds player, it won’t all be gloomy from his own supporters. Leeds fans haven’t forgotten his move away when they got relegated but in Harrison, they have a player with tonnes of top-flight experience – something that Farke knows his side lacks.
