Man City 3 Leeds United 2: Lee Sobot's Video Verdict
Daniel Farke praised his Leeds United side's fighting spirit as they ended their losing run with a hard earned 3-1 win over world champions Chelsea at a rocking Elland Road.
After a battling display against another of the Premier League's big boys on Saturday the Whites again showed they could live with the best teams in the division as their new look 3-5-2 line-up helped them to overcome opponents who just a week earlier had humbled Barcelona.
It helped maybe that Chelsea made a number of changes from their strongest line-up, but even with the likes of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho on the pitch in the second half they found it hard work.
Jaka Bijol, with his first goal for the club, gave Leeds the start they were looking for and another first in the Premier League for crowd favourite Ao Tanaka made it 2-0 before half-time.
Ao Tanaka made it 2-0 against Chelsea with his first goal at Premier League level for Leeds United.placeholder image
Ao Tanaka made it 2-0 against Chelsea with his first goal at Premier League level for Leeds United.
Chelsea pulled a goal back through Neto early in the second half and threatened more after the break, but United's win was sealed by Dominic Calvert-Lewin's third goal of the season.
Manager Farke was understandably delighted with the way his players handled a pressure game as they aimed to get out of the bottom three and succeeded.
He said: “The win was deserved by chances, expected goals, shots, shots on target, set pieces.
“We had to suffer at times and they had more possession. I would have preferred to have control of the game a bit more, but overall it was a well deserved win and compliments to the lads.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed Leeds United's 3-1 win over Chelsea.placeholder image
Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed Leeds United's 3-1 win over Chelsea.
“This is why we have worked so desperately in the past, to bring us back on this level. We want to bring the magic nights back to Elland Road.
"Unbelievable atmosphere, playing one of the best sides in the world, and to win this game and also deserve to, back to our best defensive behaviour, scored three goals, could have scored perhaps even a few more.
“It was an unbelievable shift from the lads, they showed great heart, great character, great unity, great fighting spirit also.
“The lads executed the plan well. We had a pretty physical side on the pitch and wanted to use it.”
On the 3-5-2 formation he continued after switching to it for the second half at Manchester City, Farke added: “The feeling was we had a really good second half in this shape and it would have felt difficult for the players if I changed again.
"I had it in my head anyway, Sebastiaan Bornauw was back – first minutes on the pitch, welcome to Leeds for him – and it fits and suits the style Chelsea plays. They're so good and dominant in possession and either you go really brave with high pressing or sit really deep, compact in a good shape and suffer a bit.
"It was in my plans anyway. Willy (Gnonto) more or less just back, Daniel James also out, both strikers in last games scoring. For me it was clear, although I didn't want to give too much away before the game because Enzo was questioning a little bit what we would do."
Enzo Maresca admitted Leeds had been the better team.
He said: "I think they were better than us in all the aspects, they deserved to win the game.
“There's nothing we can take from this game, only to understand the mistakes and try to reset.
“We performed so well against Arsenal, Barcelona, but it's not possible to perform the same way (every time). For different reasons the level is not going to be always the same. When you come here, away against any team, if you don't perform at 100 per cent the Premier League is tough.
“When you play, again the last two against Barcelona and Arsenal, you expect a better performance no doubt. But we change players, we have players for whom it isn't possible to play every three days. They are important players for us. We cannot use them every game, it's impossible or they can get injured and be out for months and months."
On his young star Estevao's performance he added: "I think the feeling with Estevao was a little bit welcome to the Premier League, welcome to Leeds."
Leeds started strongly with Anton Stach having a volley charged down in the second minute and Tanaka miscuing a shot following a threatening run and pull back by Calvert-Lewin.
They were ahead in the sixth minute as Bijol lost his marker to get free to meet a Stach corner and his header was too powerful for Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez to keep out.
Pascal Struijk could have made it two from another corner, but despite being unmarked he sent his header wide.
Tanaka sent a weak shot wide following a fine counter attack involving Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lukas Nmecha and Stach. The tactics were working well.
Chelsea's young superstar Estevao briefly threatened when he cut in from his right wing and hit a shot that deflected wide.
But his night was more summed up when he lost out to Gudmundsson in a challenge and kicked out at the Leeds wing-back after having to chase him. He was lucky the card he got was yellow and not red and he was substituted at half-time.
The Whites were still going forward well as Stach saw a shot deflected wide after a good run and Tanaka mis-hit another effort from the edge of the box.
They doubled their lead just before half-time when Nmecha won the ball high up the pitch and a nice pass from Jayden Bogle gave space to Tanaka who this time found the back of the net with a great strike.
Leeds had a great chance to increase the lead early in the second half, but Nmecha's strike with just the keeper to beat was kept out by Sanchez.
Calvert-Lewin then tried an overhead kick with no joy from the next attack.
But Chelsea were back in it two minutes later as substitute Neto made a quick impact, volleying in well from a tight angle after meeting a Jamie Gittens cross.
The game opened up now and Liam Delap fired a shot into the side netting before the home team had the ball in the net through a powerful finish by Nmecha only to be denied by a late flag – correctly raised, however, for offside.
Delap shot over from just inside the box before being replaced by England star Cole Palmer, who soon had a great chance to equalise only to shoot wide after meeting a pull back from fellow sub Alejandro Garnacho.
This time it was United's turn to make their opponents pay for a missed opportunity as sloppy defending allowed home sub Noah Okafor to nip in and win the ball in the Chelsea box. He was denied by Sanchez at close range, but the ball ran loose for Calvert-Lewin to have the easiest of tap-ins to make it 3-1.
Despite the visitors having more of the ball Leeds continued to look dangerous on the break with Gudmundsson sending a shot over when a cross might have been a better option.
Marc Guiu sent a header over as a nervous finish looked on the cards for the home fans. But the Whites saw the game out well and could have added to their score when Sanchez was caught out of his area, but Okafor's shot from distance was not struck cleanly and easily cleared.
(Bijol 6, Tanaka 43, Calvert-Lewin 72)
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Premier League
Attendance: 36,767
Leeds: Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle (Justin 86), Ampadu, Tanaka (Gruev 66), Stach, Gudmundsson (Bornauw 90+3); Nmecha (Okafor 66), Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 86).
Chelsea: Sanchez; Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile (Gusto 45), Cucurella; Santos (Gulu 77), Fernandez; Estevao (Neto 45), Joao Pedro, Gittens (Garnacho 61); Delap (Palmer 61).
Referee: Darren England
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