DANIEL FARKE’S REVIVAL: LEEDS BEAT CHELSEA, ESCAPE RELEGATION ZONE
Leeds United secured a vital 3-1 home win against Chelsea, powered by goals from Bijol, Tanaka, and Calvert-Lewin. Ampadu stars as Leeds escape drop.
Leeds United put on a great show at Elland Road, beating Chelsea 3–1 in front of their excited fans. Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka scored in the first half, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin added another late in the game. The team played with a lot of energy and confidence, which helped them get out of the relegation zone.
Daniel Farke switched things up a bit after their close 3-2 loss to Manchester City, going with a 3-5-2 formation similar to what they used in the second half at Manchester City.
Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jaka Bijol came back to strengthen the defence, Anton Stach returned to the midfield, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin played alongside Lukas Nmecha in attack.
Chelsea:
The atmosphere at Elland Road was electric as the game began.
Leeds wasted no time, with Ao Tanaka's shot going wide after Calvert-Lewin made a strong run into the box and set him up nicely.
Leeds Scores First
Leeds kept the pressure on, and it paid off. In the fifth minute, Jaka Bijol headed in a corner from Anton Stach, getting away from Liam Delap to give Leeds a 1–0 lead and sending the crowd wild.
The home team looked like they could score from any set piece. Around the 16th minute, Pascal Struijk jumped high but headed just wide. Chelsea's defence was focused on Bijol, which left space for others to attack. Every time Chelsea tried to move forward, Leeds pressured them hard and forced them back. Then, Leeds would quickly attack with their two forwards and wing-backs joining in.
Stach controlled the game, running through the midfield before passing to Tanaka, whose shot went wide. Chelsea had their first chance when Estevão cut inside, and his shot was deflected off Gudmundsson for a corner. As Leeds eased up a bit on the pressure, Chelsea started to control the ball more.
There was a moment of worry when Lukas Nmecha went down with a hamstring issue in the 28th minute, but he came back after getting treatment. Ethan Ampadu was then accidentally hit by his teammate Bijol while going for the ball with Delap.
Stach received a yellow card in the 35th minute for a late tackle on Marc Cucurella. Just before halftime, Joao Pedro passed to Delap, whose shot was saved by Lucas Perri. Chelsea's Estevão then got a yellow card for reacting to Gudmundsson.
Tanaka Scores
The crowd went crazy again in the 44th minute when Ao Tanaka found some space and scored a great goal, his first in the Premier League.
Second Half
Chelsea made two changes at halftime, bringing on Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto.
Within two minutes, Stach sent in another dangerous cross, with Nmecha forcing a good save from Sánchez.
Neto Scores for Chelsea
Chelsea responded in the 51st minute when Pedro Neto scored, making it 2–1.
Leeds almost scored again right away when Nmecha scored, but VAR called Calvert-Lewin offside.
Chelsea then brought on Alejandro Garnacho and Cole Palmer, while Leeds brought on Ilia Gruev and Noah Okafor.
Garnacho almost made an immediate impact, setting up Palmer for a shot that didn't quite go in.
Leeds Scores Again Due to a Mistake
Leeds kept pushing and got a lucky goal in the 73rd minute. After a defensive mix-up, the ball fell to Calvert-Lewin, who scored to make it 3–1.
Chelsea made another change, but Leeds held on. Late in the game, Leeds brought on James Justin and Joel Piroe to secure the win.
This win takes Leeds out of the relegation zone. Chelsea, on the other hand, loses ground at the top of the table.
Player of the Match—Ethan Ampadu
Every Leeds player played well, but Ethan Ampadu stood out the most. He had the most touches, won most of his battles, and controlled the midfield.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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