Leeds United’s unbelievable run within the Premier League reveals no indicators of slowing down after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Chelsea final night time.
Daniel Farke’s aspect seemed virtually sure to endure a uncommon defeat in England’s high flight after Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer put the hosts forward with two targets.
However the Whites’ never-give-up angle was evident all through the second half, with Lucas Nmeka’s sixth league objective of the season giving them a lifeline.
Simply six minutes later, the ball fell to Noah Okafor’s ft throughout a scuffle contained in the Blues’ field, scoring the equalizer and making it his second objective in as many video games.
Regardless of the spectacular comeback at Stamford Bridge, a number of gamers who began the sport did not make a giant impression and Farke may drop them from his beginning eleven.
Leeds had a poor efficiency in opposition to Chelsea final night time.
Regardless of reviving his Leeds profession by way of the 2025/26 season, Brenden Aaronson had a quiet night time in west London final night time at his traditional excessive customary.
The American was substituted with only a few minutes remaining, however struggled to make an impression on the pitch, with zero possibilities created and 0 profitable dribbles.
Moreover, not one of the crosses they put into the opponent’s half have been transformed, and so they solely touched the ball 26 instances, and have been unable to make a huge impact on the consequence after that.
However it wasn’t simply the 25-year-old who did not impress, with centre-back Xhaka Bihor failing to impress for the correct causes in his first league begin in over a month.
The Slovenian worldwide conceded an pointless penalty within the second half after pushing Pedro inside the realm, and his poor decision-making price the Whites the prospect to take all three factors.
He additionally missed a deal with and solely made one block within the defensive third at Stamford Bridge, however his lack of motion within the league was evident in his efficiency final night time.
Leeds gamers who want to go away after Chelsea
Leeds have misplaced simply two of their final 13 league video games in current weeks, leaving them six factors away from the drop zone with 12 video games remaining.
Farke’s resolution to modify to a three-man defensive unit has appeared to have helped their current kind, with solely video games in opposition to Newcastle and Arsenal subsequently struggling in such intervals.
The change in formation allowed the workforce to develop into a extra strong defensive unit, whereas additionally permitting the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin to play within the ultimate third.
Nonetheless, within the current match in opposition to Chelsea, the supervisor gave centre-back Sebastian Bornau a uncommon begin, a call that now seems to have been the incorrect one.
The Belgian, who joined the membership from Wolfsburg in the summertime, had began simply three league video games earlier than final night time’s draw, however his efficiency highlighted why he’s not a daily starter.
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He teamed up with Bujol and Joe Rodon within the heart of protection, however by some means managed to supply a worse efficiency than the previous, regardless of conceding penalties.
Bornau performed simply 55 minutes earlier than being changed by objective scorer Okafor, however his absence was justified based mostly on final night time’s basic numbers.
The shortage of high quality of possession was evident all through, with the defender registering simply 24 touches on the ball, fewer than Karl Darlow (56), and finishing simply 85% of the passes he tried.
He then gave away the ball on six separate events, additional highlighting the defender’s struggles with the ball at his ft at Stamford Bridge.
Sebastian Bornau – Statistics in opposition to Chelsea | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
Play time (minutes) | 55 |
contact | twenty 4 |
Cross accuracy | 85% |
lack of possession | 6 instances |
deal with win | 0 |
Variety of fouls dedicated | 2 |
aerial gained | 33% |
dribbled previous | 2x |
The Belgian was equally depressing when making an attempt to cease his opponent, lacking a deal with however committing two fouls, which resulted in him being booked.
Different stats, resembling a 33% aerial success fee and two dribbling passes, additionally level to his poor efficiency, which may result in him being dropped from the aspect.
After such performances, Borneau was given a match score of simply 4/10 by journalist Graham Smith, additional demonstrating his struggles in opposition to the Blues.
There is not any denying that Falke’s resolution to maneuver to a again three in current months has saved the Whites’ season, giving them a a lot better likelihood of survival on the finish of the season.
Nonetheless, if the membership is to develop into a part of the Premier League once more within the 2026/27 season, it is going to be very important that the supervisor makes use of different choices slightly than Bornau on the coronary heart of defence.
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Leeds United got here from behind to safe a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night time.
