Leeds United started their season with a bang after a fine 3-1 away win at Bristol City on Saturday.
The Championship's promotion favourites proved dominant in most departments, making more passes, building more attacks and attempting more shots on goal.
In the curtain raiser, Marcelo Bielsa relied predominantly on the same personal that got Leeds so close to promotion last season, but gave centre-back Ben White his debut and brought on Portuguese winger Helder Costa from the bench.
Their win and manner of victory was a real statement of intent for Argentine's side and sent a message to the rest of the division. Not just dominate in key areas, they also seemed a yard quicker than their opponents which was best highlighted in their second goal of the game.
As they often did throughout the course of the match, Leeds looked to build attacks down the flanks. In the build up to this goal, they get the ball out wide cleverly for Barry Douglas to whip in a cross. Note that City's Eros Pisano is slow in closing the cross down.
The cross is headed away well by Callum O'Dowda as the City defence look to clear their lines.
However, from here Leeds turn on the style and prove to be too hot to handle for their opponents. The headed ball comes to Kalvin Phillips who acutely avoids a lofted ball back into the box and instead identifies the space to his right, fully aware of Pablo Hernandez making a run.
Bristol City's O'Dowda is slow to close Hernandez down who ends up beating the defender through some fine skill.
Leeds are now in a dangerous position. Note Taylor Moore is unaware of Patrick Bamford's excellent movement around him and is caught ball watching.
As a result, Bamford creates the space and leaps above the defender to nod the ball home for the visitors.
The above set the tone for the remainder of the game and illustrated just how ruthless Bielsa’s men can be this season. They defeated a promotion rival on their own turf and rightfully stole all of the headlines as a result.
The Whites look set to be another highly exciting and explosive side to watch this season.
