Still unbeaten in pre-season, Leeds United face their final test on Saturday, with a clash against Italian giants AC Milan in Dublin.
While the Whites are gearing up for another Premier League comeback, Milan will seek a return to Italy's top four after their dismal 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
A chaotic year saw Milan dispense with two Portuguese coaches - Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao - win the Supercoppa Italiana within a week of the latter's appointment and lose the Coppa Italia final to Bologna.
Being dumped out of the Champions League by Feyenoord and finishing eighth in Serie A meant that change was inevitable at Milanello, where the 'new' man in charge is former boss Massimiliano Allegri.
Allegri's return came amid a restructuring of the club's hierarchy, and with off-field matters still rumbling away in the background, Milan must start the new season positively.
After Stateside friendlies against Liverpool and Arsenal last month, preparations continued with a 9-0 thrashing of Perth Glory; now, the Rossoneri will take their tally of Premier League opponents to four.
This weekend, Milan are set to face Leeds in Dublin and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, so plenty of rotation will be required to play two games in under 48 hours.
As a result of their lowly league finish, they must kick off their domestic campaign next week, welcoming Bari to San Siro in round one of the Coppa Italia; newly promoted Cremonese are first up in Serie A, on August 23.
Ethan Ampadu lifts the Championship trophy for Leeds United on May 03, 2025
Promoted back to England's top flight as winners of the Championship in 2024-25, Leeds began pre-season in the manner they finished last term.
After holding old foes Manchester United to a goalless draw in mid-July, Daniel Farke's side then put a total of seven goals past Verl and Paderborn during a successful training camp in Germany.
New signing Lukas Nmecha was among the scorers behind closed doors, before Leeds returned home for their sole summer friendly at Elland Road.
Last season's Championship golden boot winner Joel Piroe scored on his birthday in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal, as the Whites took one step closer to their competitive return.
Before the serious business begins with a home game against Everton next weekend, Farke's men must first do battle with the seven-time European champions at Aviva Stadium.
Leeds United pre-season form: D W W D
AC Milan pre-season form: L W W
Team News
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke pictured on May 3, 2025
Daniel Farke handed out four home debuts last week, including starts for midfielders Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff, and several new signings will feature for Leeds in Ireland.
Options are thin up front, though, as Lukas Nmecha has been the only forward to arrive this summer, while Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford are set to leave.
Dan James and Jack Harrison both missed out against Villarreal due to injury, alongside Sebastian Bournauw, Jayden Bogle and new goalkeeper Lucas Perri. While it remains to be seen whether they can return in time for Saturday's game, 16-year-old Harry Gray should play some part, as he continues in the family tradition.
Milan's most eye-catching arrival is Croatian maestro Luka Modric, while Swiss midfielder Ardon Jashari has just joined from Club Brugge, having been voted Player of the Season in Belgium's Pro League.
Italy international Samuele Ricci will also bolster an engine room now missing key man Tijani Reijnders, who signed for Manchester City; Alvaro Morata is bound for ambitious Como and Malick Thiaw could be heading to England.
Ever cautious, Max Allegri played five men at the back against Premier League sides last month, so the Rossoneri may set up that way again at the Aviva, while Rafael Leao leads their attack.
Leeds United possible starting lineup: Darlow; Schmidt, Bijol, Rodon, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Stach; Aaronson, Nmecha, Gnonto; Piroe
AC Milan possible starting lineup: Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Musah, Estupinan; Pulisic, Leao
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We say: Leeds United 1-2 AC Milan
Milan are still integrating recent arrivals, but Max Allegri has already started to impose some structure on the chaos he found upon returning to San Siro.
Meanwhile, Leeds are lacking a little depth in some areas and can be caught out at the back, so their undefeated run through pre-season may end.
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