Leeds United continued their pre-season preparations on Wednesday afternoon, taking on 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96 in a friendly encounter.
Daniel Farke’s side are on a training camp in Germany and have been working hard whilst away, as they build up to their Sky Bet Championship opener against Portsmouth at Elland Road on Saturday 10th August.
Coming into this clash, the Whites had beaten neighbours Harrogate Town just a few days earlier with a comfortable 3-0 victory at The Exercise Stadium, courtesy of goals from Junior Firpo, Georginio Rutter and Sam Chambers.
Wearing the newly launched away kit, the stunning yellow shone perfectly under the German sun, with the popular smiley badge on show for all to see.
It would be Farke who was then smiling first, seeing his team take an early lead in the game. A free-flowing team move saw Ilia Gruev exchange a clever one-two with Brenden Aaronson, before the midfielder rounded Leo Weinkauf in the Hannover goal to slot home.
Leeds kept the pressure up, with both wings causing problems. The next move to go close began with Joe Rodon at the back, before Willy Gnonto picked it up on the right flank and flashed a ball across the face of goal, only to see both Joel Piroe and Aaronson narrowly miss the chance to turn home at full stretch.
Aaronson would be heavily involved once more moments later. He won a free-kick 25-yards out and stepped up to take it himself, only to see his strike deflect just wide for a corner.
The Whites did double their lead midway through the half. Gruev won the ball high up and fed Georginio on the wing, who quickly played in Piroe. The Dutch forward composed himself, then struck powerfully into the back of the net with his right foot.
Hannover looked to fight back before the break and had one big chance, seeing Nicolo Tresoldi fire well over the bar when well placed inside the area from Sei Muroya’s low cross, in the final action of the opening 45 minutes.
HALF TIME: Hannover 96 0 Leeds United 2
Back out for the second half, both teams made changes to the XIs which had started the game. For Leeds, Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Mateo Joseph, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Rothwell all entered the field.
Hannover had two early corners and began well after the break, looking to pressure a defence which had little to do in the first half. However, Leeds dealt well with what the German side threw at them and burst straight up the other end.
From that attack, the lead was extended further, when Joseph found the net straight after coming on. Piroe was involved again finding Summerville, who sent the Spaniard through one-on-one and he did the rest, firing home confidently.
The 2. Bundesliga side did then get one back, with an excellent strike of their own. Lars Gindorf struck powerfully from the edge of the area into the top corner.
Farke made further changes, as Charlie Crew, Max Wober, James Debayo and Joe Gelhardt were then all brought on just after the hour mark.
A fourth goal would quickly follow, restoring the three-goal lead. Again it was Joseph who found the net, turning home well from Bogle’s low cross after clever build-up play had released the full-back down the right.
With just five minutes remaining, Harry Gray was the final substitute to enter, replacing newly named club captain, Ethan Ampadu.
An important workout for the Whites in Germany saw an excellent first outing for the new away shirt, a collection on finely worked goals and an entertaining game in the German sun.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 4 (Gruev 7’, Piroe 27’, Joseph 51’, 70’) Hannover 96 1 (Gindorf 62’)
Leeds: Darlow (GK) (Meslier 46’), Firpo (Wober 63’), Ampadu (C) (Gray 85’), Struijk, Piroe (Crew 63’), Aaronson (Summerville 46’), Rodon (Debayo 63’), Georginio (Joseph 46’), Byram (Bogle 46’), Gnonto (Gelhardt 63’), Gruev (Rothwell 46’). Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Thomas, Chambers.
Referee: Henry Schroder
The real winners from Leeds’ win over Hannover
Sam Byram, Junior Firpo, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Gruev and Rutter all impressed. But they are players that often provide consistency – eyes were on the likes of Aaronson, Piroe, Jayden Bogle and more.
Aaronson was the biggest winner, a brilliant 45. Committed, showing Leeds fans he is more than ready. Piroe struggled during the second half of the season and at Harrogate but he looked excellent yesterday.
Bogle got himself an assist for Leeds’ fourth, hopefully a sign of things to come. Mateo Joseph getting a brace will be another stark reminder for Farke that he could be the man that starts up top for Leeds.