Ben Dorgan
Fri, Aug 08 2025
LEEDS UNITED
In their final pre-season match before they enter the fray in England’s top division for the first time in two years, Leeds United will play AC Milan in Dublin with respectable numbers of support expected on Saturday in the Aviva Stadium (kickoff 3pm).
The 2025 EFL Championship winners racked up a commendable 100 points in last year's campaign, alongside fellow promoted side Burnley, with Daniel Farke’s side clinching the title on goal difference.
There were questions at the back end of that season if Farke was to remain in charge of the Yorkshire club despite their promotion back to the Premier League, but the German remains at the helm with just over a week to go until the new campaign kicks off.
They’ve played a number of friendlies in pre-season, and some with similar quality to the AC Milan side they’ll take on this Saturday.
Mid-July saw them take on fierce rivals Manchester United but in a less fiery affair than usual, as they played out a 0-0 draw in Stockholm, Sweden.
Last Saturday saw them earn another draw but this time it was against Spanish opponents Villareal, where striker Joel Piroe equalised for his side as the game finished 1-1 at Elland Road.
Piroe has looked sharp in these games so far, with much expectation on the Dutch forward going into his first taste of English top flight football having netted 19 goals last season as Leeds’ top scorer.
They’ve had a busy off-season in terms of transfers and haven’t been shy of spending well on the defensive side of the squad, acquiring Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw for an estimated combined fee of €35.6 million, while Lucas Perri arrived in from Olympique Lyon and looks to provide a strong challenge to Islan Meslier in the Leeds goal.
There has also been a focus on the midfield structure, picking up Sean Longstaff from Newcastle United and Anton Stach from Hoffenheim for big money, while Lukas Nmecha will add firepower up front.
With a club the size of Leeds, there is always massive expectation from the Elland Road faithful.
For some, the prime focus for the next nine months will be avoiding relegation back to England’s second tier after a single season, a misfortune that has followed the last two winners of the Championship before 2025 (Burnley and Leicester City).
For others, there is expectation to push further up the league and challenge for a European place, similar to what they accomplished in the 2020/21 season where they returned to the Premier League after absence.
They face a stern test this Saturday against Milan, one they won’t be used to in terms of style but one that will stick to them as they edge closer to a big campaign that will test where the club is at.
It will be one last chance for players to showcase their qualities to play a part in the most watched league in the world to Farke as the squad shapes up before their opening game at home to Everton on the 18th.
A strong lineup can be expected to take to the pitch in Dublin, with a mix of the core of the Championship winning side, as well as the new arrivals getting more minutes in the tank, but ultimately the big Leeds following in Ireland will be hoping for something to cheer about this Saturday as they play in the country for the first time in nine years.
AC MILAN
The Italian giants have been busy over the summer, in both pre-season matchups and in the transfer market and will make the trip to Dublin in what is their third time playing in Ireland in their history.
In their previous two fixtures on the island, both were competitive ones against League of Ireland opposition – a famous 1975 UEFA Cup match against Athlone Town ending with a 0-0 draw, and most recently a 2-0 victory in 2020 over Shamrock Rovers in a long-legged covid UEFA Europa League qualifier with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hakan Calhanoglu on the scoresheet in a game played out behind closed doors in Tallaght.
Coached by one of the most successful managers in Europe, Massimiliano Allegri, the 57-year-old returned to the club in May for a second stint after they finished in a disappointing eighth place in Serie A in the 2024/25 season.
Allegri has put his side right to work in the summer, facing the likes of Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool over the last number of weeks, putting four goals past the latter in an impressive display.
More recently, they faced off against Australian side Perth Glory, dismantling them 9-0 while also scoring four goals in eight first half minutes.
If goals are anything to go by, the attack looks to have gelled together quickly in pre-season, with the likes of Noah Okafor and Rafael Leao impressing.
As for arrivals over the summer, the big-name standout is definitely Ballon D’or winner Luka Modric, who after 13 years, multiple trophies and nearly 400 appearances for Real Madrid, joined Milan on a free transfer on a one-year contract.
The Croatian turns 40 years old next month but is still an incredible pick up by the Italian giants. He is yet to feature in pre-season but was officially presented as a new player at a press conference this week, so there is a possibility he makes his debut for the club against Leeds in Dublin.
Other incomings include Samuele Ricci and Pervis Estupinan from Torino and Brighton for a combined €40 million, while Swiss international Ardon Jashiri joined the club on Wednesday for a package worth €39 million from Club Brugge.
The squad expected to travel is anyone's guess however, as they are also due to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge the following day in a busy weekend of fixtures for the club.
It will be an interesting matchup from Milan’s point of view, with their attacking firepower on form throughout their summer friendlies coming up against a Leeds side with a rejuvenated defensive line.
Unlike Leeds, it’s fair to say Milan’s Irish based support doesn’t have great strength in numbers, with this likely to have the feeling of an away fixture for Allegri’s men at Lansdowne Road.
This will be the final weekend of matchups for the side, as they look to continue their good form so far ahead of their opening competitive fixture next Sunday against Bari in the Coppa Italia.
Prediction: Leeds United 2 - 3 AC Milan
MATCH STATS
The teams have met a total of three times in their history, with two meetings coming in the 2000/2001 Champions League group stages, as well as a 1973 European cup winners cup final.
The game is set to be close to a sell-out, with Leeds reportedly selling 42,000 tickets.
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