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Leeds player ratings vs RB Leipzig: Joe Rodon dazzles, Sean Longstaff shines
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- Leeds player ratings vs RB Leipzig: Joe Rodon dazzles, Sean Longstaff shines
Leeds United ran out 2-0 winners over RB Leipzig on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke picked another strong side to face the Bundesliga outfit following on from the 4-2 win over Liverpool .
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There were Elland Road debuts for Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemovic too, as Whites fans took their first glimpses of the two new recruits close up.
It was a scorching afternoon in West Yorkshire, with the match wisely being split into four 30-minute quarters, with Farke making a host of changes for the second hour.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Leeds the lead after seven minutes, before Lukas Nmecha added a second late into the fourth 30-minute period.
MOT Leeds Newsrates every Leeds player who played their part in Saturday's win over Leipzig.
Joe Rodon reveals hidden Leeds United talent vs RB Leipzig
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There have been few better servants or bigger characters to represent Leeds over the last three years than Joe Rodon.
Signing on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2023 before turning his move permanent the following year, the Welsh international has been integral to the Whites' rise from the Championship to their current Premier League status.
What he's never been able to do in 136 competitive appearances in a Leeds shirt, however, is register an assist.
Unfortunately that hasn't changed after RB Leipzig due to it being a friendly, because had it not been, his first would've been a collectors item to treasure.
He flew down the right wing allowing Jayden Bogle to feed a ball down the line, suddenly but intentionally finding himself all alone as he arrived into the right-side of the Leipzig box.
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Rodon looked up and delivered a pinpoint first-time cross low across the box, where Calvert-Lewin arrived to pass the ball into the net from eight yards.
It wasn't the only time during his 60 minutes on the pitch that he made this kind of run, proving that it wasn't just a spur of the moment decision, but rather a clear instruction from the coaching staff.
So, perhaps we can expect to see a lot more of this from Rodon in 2026-27, as if this was a test run to see how effective a forward runner he was, then the Welshman passed it with flying colours.
Even more impressively, Rodon didn't let his forays forward leave Leeds exposed at the back, as he was always in position to deal with Leipzig threats and reaffirmed his ability as a top defender.
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Another Whites player who continued his impressive pre-season campaign against Leipzig was Sean Longstaff .
Joe Rodon to worry for Leeds United future after latest transfer updates - Verdict Longstaff takes big step towards cementing starting role vs Leipzig
Perhaps the star of Leeds' pre-season so far, Longstaff already has two goals to his name against Wrexham and Liverpool respectively.
And whilst he wasn't able to find the net against Leipzig, his performance looked every bit as though he's found a home in the heart of Farke's midfield.
Operating alongside Ethan Ampadu , it was the 28-year-old who ran the show in central midfield, winning his duels and tackles, whilst also spraying passes around and keeping things tidy in the middle.
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He would play some lovely line-breaking passes in-behind the Leipzig defence too, and on another day could quite easily found himself with a goal contribution or too.
Ao Tanaka should now be comfortably behind the Englishman in the midfield pecking order, and must now be at the point where he's convinced Farke that he has to find a way to get him in the team.
Anton Stach may complicate that, but he has also been filling in out wide during Noah Okafor 's absence, but regardless, Longstaff is well on his way to cementing himself as a key starting player now.
Leeds United player ratings vs RB Leipzig
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Alex Cairns - 8
James Justin - 8
Joe Rodon - 10
Tarik Muharemovic - 7
Jayden Bogle - 8
Ethan Ampadu - 7
Sean Longstaff - 9
Dan James - 7
Harry Wilson - 6
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 9
Substitutes
Lukas Nmecha(for Calvert-Lewin, '60) - 8
Jayden Lienou(for Rodon, '60) - 7
Jaka Bijol (for Bornauw, '60) - 6
Ao Tanaka(for Longstaff, '60) - 6
Brenden Aaronson (for Ampadu, '60) - 6
Anton Stach(for James, '60) - 7
Callum Mills(for Wilson, '75) - 7
Wilfried Gnonto (for Justin,'90) - 8
Rhys Chadwick(for Bogle,'90) - 6
Alfie Cresswell(for Muharemovic,'90) - 7
