Leeds United vs Villarreal Match Thread

[1964white]

Leeds United return to Elland Road on Saturday 2 August 2025 for an enticing friendly against Villarreal CF, with kick‑off at 3:00 pm. This will be the only pre‑season match played at home in front of fans after their early fixtures—a goalless draw versus Manchester United in Stockholm, followed by behind‑closed‑doors victories in Germany against SC Verl (4‑1) and SC Paderborn (3‑2). With the Premier League opener against Everton on Monday 18 August now just over two weeks away, Daniel Farke will want to see how his squad’s recent acquisitions perform in a live setting.

The pre‑season form has been encouraging. Joël Piroe, Willy Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha all found the net during the German camp, reinforcing Leeds’ attacking momentum ahead of the Villarreal match. Supporters can expect to see up to seven summer signings make their first appearances at Elland Road, offering a live snapshot of how Farke’s new-look squad is coming together.





Lucas Perri arrives as the new first-choice goalkeeper, expected to replace Illan Meslier, while centre-backs Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw add much-needed defensive depth and physicality while Gabriel Gudmundsson joins to replace Junior Firpo at left-back. In midfield, Sean Longstaff brings Premier League experience and energy, complemented by the towering Anton Stach, whose aerial presence and composure will be key in tougher top-flight battles. Up front, Lukas Nmecha adds versatility and a goal threat. All are expected to feature at some point, providing manager Daniel Farke with an important opportunity to test combinations and assess how well these new arrivals are bedding into the squad before the season kicks off.

Villarreal come into the fixture off a respectable fifth‑place finish in La Liga, which earned them a Champions League spot, but their form this summer has been mixed. They drew with FC Basel and St. Gallen before losing narrowly to Sporting Lisbon in their most recent outing. This is the second meeting between the clubs, both friendlies, the first being a 2‑2 draw back in 2021.

Leeds will conclude their pre-season against AC Milan in Dublin on Saturday 9 August.



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[Jammy 07]

Do we want to win this one and possibly think the squad is good enough or maybe take a beating and then the 49ers will dig a bit deeper ?

[GreennWhite]

A nice win would set us up well for the opening game against Everton. But a win would be down played by some as just a friendly game and meant nothing, Villarreal were just going through the motions, and not interested etc, etc
Lose and we will have the usual suspects with the usual complaints, and that will last the whole way through the coming season.
So its a dammed if you do-dammed if you dont game and result

[The Subhuman]

A nice win would set us up well for the opening game against Everton. But a win would be down played by some as just a friendly game and meant nothing, Villarreal were just going through the motions, and not interested etc, etc
Lose and we will have the usual suspects with the usual complaints, and that will last the whole way through the coming season.
So its a dammed if you do-dammed if you dont game and result

Ditto a loss ... works both ways

[The Subhuman]

Perri
Bogle
Gudmundsson
Ampadu
Rodon
Bijol
James
Stach
Piroe
Longstaff
Harrison

Which I think seems to be the preferred starting 11 with the players we have. Assuming we start Farke's "strongest 11"

[1964white]

Perri
Bogle
Rodon
Bijol
Gudmundsson
Ampadu
Stach
Longstaff
James
Piroe
Gnonto

[Irish Ian]

Do we want to win this one and possibly think the squad is good enough or maybe take a beating and then the 49ers will dig a bit deeper ?

I doubt our friendly games will influence the clubs spending policy.

What would you expect our transfer policy to look like at this point we have spent £74M already?

[Lumiukko]

Looking forward to this one. I am going to be back home visiting to Shakey Wakey and so I snagged a ticket for the friendly with an old friend. Decent opposition if Villareal take it seriously.

[1964white]

Looking forward to this one. I am going to be back home visiting to Shakey Wakey and so I snagged a ticket for the friendly with an old friend. Decent opposition if Villareal take it seriously.

Excellent, acquiring a ticket, Lumi.

I bet you are excited at the prospect of seeing Leeds again.

I can't wait.

[Jammy 07]

I doubt our friendly games will influence the clubs spending policy.

What would you expect our transfer policy to look like at this point we have spent £74M already?

We seem to be strengthening the squad with solid unspectacular payers and that has cost as you say quite a lot of money. So for where we are currently I'd say we're just about on track but two further signings of significant quality are definitely required before the window closes with probably about another £60M needing to be invested.

[Barlow Boy]

Seems a few from here are going along on Saturday

[whiteinfrance]

Seems a few from here are going along on Saturday

I'm not!

[1964white]

Seems a few from here are going along on Saturday

Get ready for Heidi's camera.

[Barlow Boy]

I'm not!

You never go

[whiteswan]

I'm not!

Me neither but will enjoy the reports on here after the game.

[Orange Box]

I'm not either, but I am going to Dublin the week after!

[Carrick Dave]

I'm not either, but I am going to Dublin the week after!

Me too.

[Lumiukko]

Excellent, acquiring a ticket, Lumi.

I bet you are excited at the prospect of seeing Leeds again.

I can't wait.

Yes, very excited. It's been donkeys since I've managed to get to a game. Hoping to get a couple of pints before the game too, maybe at the Peacock for old times sake.

[whiteswan]

Looking forward to this one. I am going to be back home visiting to Shakey Wakey and so I snagged a ticket for the friendly with an old friend. Decent opposition if Villareal take it seriously.

Where in Wakey Lumi?

[Lumiukko]

Where in Wakey Lumi?

Hi Swanny,

I'll be staying in Normanton where my elderly mother lives, but I grew up in Durkar.

I might try to make a Trinity game too on August 8th but being Saints on a Friday, I can see it being sold out.