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Joshua Hobbs

Ranking the best goals Leeds United have scored so far during the Marcelo Bielsa era

Although Leeds United endured a frustrating game in an attacking sense against Newcastle United last weekend, where several excellent opportunities passed them by, they have been a force to be reckoned with going forwards ever since Marcelo Bielsa joined the club in the summer of 2018.

There have been many fantastic goals scored under the Argentine's management, so much so that it's genuinely difficult to come up with a list of the greatest Bielsa ball goals and any attempt will always be the source of debate because some excellent goals we have to be missed out.

Preference will always come into it as well, as some will prefer team goals, others will have a penchant for headers and many love long-range strikes the most.

Still, Leeds Live has given it a go. Here is our list of the ten greatest goals scored under Bielsa. These are listed in chronological order.

Mateusz Klich v Stoke - 18/19

The goal that started it all. Stoke arrived at Elland Road as the favourites for the division but the Whites put them to the sword playing vibrant football which stunned and excited the home crowd. Klich applied the finish after Leeds built from the back and fed Samu Saiz, who rode a couple of challenges before slipping the ball through to the Pole to prod past Jack Butland.

Pablo Hernandez v West Bromwich Albion - 18/19

Leeds faced West Brom at Elland Road after a poor mid-week result at QPR and needed to win to go back to the top of the table, with their opponents one of those vying for the automatic promotion spots.

Pablo Hernandez' goal in the first 16 seconds of the fixture set the tone for what was to come on a pulsating Friday night. Liam Cooper won a booming header and the ball was picked up by Gjanni Alioski, who carried it into the West Brom half. He then played it to Jack Harrison, who spotted Hernandez on the edge of the box. The Spaniard fired it into the top corner to provide the platform for one of the most dominant wins of the Bielsa era as the Whites came out 4-0 victors.

Stuart Dallas v Stoke - 19/20

Having seen their promotion bid fail in 18/19, Bielsa's started 19/20 in flowing form and put Stoke to the sword at the Britannia Stadium.

Dallas' goal stood out as he was playing right wing-back but popped up in the position one would expect a striker to finish one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

This goal was all about the build-up, as Adam Forshaw recovered the ball just inside the Stoke half, before passing to Harrison. The winger's first-touch pass came to Hernandez, who had spotted Dallas haring forwards and played a first-time through ball. It all seemed to happen too quickly for the Stoke defence, who were genuinely shocked to see Dallas running onto the ball to slide it past Adam Federici.

Tyler Roberts v Hull - 19/20

This was one of many excellent team goals scored in the promotion-winning season. Leeds built from their own left-back position, with a one-two between Dallas and Harrison key in breaking the Hull pressure.

Tyler Roberts then received the ball in the centre circle and turned to pass it on to Helder Costa. The Portuguese winger then split the Hull defence with a pass for Klich, who touched it back for Roberts arriving to drill it home from the penalty spot.

Luke Ayling v Huddersfield - 19/20

The last great moment at Elland Road pre-pandemic in 19/20.

Ayling crashed the ball in off the bar on the volley after neat build-up down the left from Klich and Hernandez and a precision cross from Harrison found the full-back racing into the box.

This seemed like a once in a lifetime goal from Ayling until it emerged he'd finished one in the exact same manner in training just days earlier.

Pablo Hernandez v Swansea - 19/20

Perhaps the most famous goal in the Bielsa era.

Hernandez scored in the dying minutes at the Liberty Stadium to put Leeds on the cusp of promotion as it meant the Whites needed only four points from their last three fixtures, presuming their rivals won all their remaining games. As it happened, they only needed one more point to seal it.

The goal came as Luke Ayling drove forwards from right back, passed to Costa and then burst into the box on the overlap to receive it again. He then cut the ball back, where it deflected to Hernandez who found the bottom corner with a scuffed finish to send the Leeds players, bench and directors box wild. One can only imagine what the scenes would have been like had there been fans in the ground.

Rodrigo v Newcastle - 20/21

This goal came in a topsy turvy game which saw the lead change hands on several occasions before Leeds took control to win 5-2.

Harrison scored an excellent long-range strike in this game but Rodrigo's header to put Leeds 2-1 up was an incredible goal, which seems almost unrepeatable.

The Spaniard took the ball down on his chest on the edge of the box, before zipping a pass out wide for Harrison. The winger had to stretch to keep it in play but then volleyed a cross back into the box, where Rodrigo arrived on the penalty spot to stoop and head into the far corner.

Patrick Bamford v Leicester - 20/21

One of Bamford's hat-trick of goals against Aston Villa could well have been included in this list but the goal at Leicester was crucial as Bielsa's side overcame a team competing for the Champions League away from home.

Leicester had taken the lead in the first half before Dallas pegged them back. The second half seemed like it could go either way until Bamford's decisive intervention.

Pascal Struijk won the ball around the halfway line and played it to Raphinha, who had drifted centrally. His first-time through ball found Bamford, who let the ball roll across his body before blasting into the top corner across Kasper Schmeichel to make it 2-1 and swing the game in Leeds' favour.

Stuart Dallas v Manchester City - 20/21

This goal sealed the standout result from Leeds' first season back in the Premier League as ten-man Leeds defeated Manchester City 2-1 in Manchester.

Leeds had been under the cosh from the moment Liam Cooper was sent off in the first half and had seen their one-goal lead vanish after Ferran Torres' equaliser in the second half. However, Pep Guardiola's side were unable to capitalise on their advantage and score a winner.

Instead, Leeds broke in the final minute as Gjanni Alioski spotted the run forwards from Dallas and clipped the ball behind the City defence. Dallas beat John Stones in the race and slipped the ball under Ederson to deliver a famous victory.

Joe Gelhardt v Chelsea 21/22

The only selection from this season, this goal demonstrated that Bielsa ball principles can still be devastating in the Premier League, despite the team's struggles to score as many goals this time around.

Junior Firpo and Klich did excellently in the build-up, as Klich left a couple of Blues players in his wake before a one-two with the left-back. Klich then released Roberts who played a brilliant low cross into the box which Joe Gelhardt raced onto to score his first Premier League goal.

Although this game ultimately ended in disappointment after a late Chelsea penalty, it was the young striker's first goal for the club and solidified his status as the fans' next great hope.

Honourable mentions

There are so many more goals that could have been included in this list. Kemar Roofe could have had four from the 18/19 season, whilst there were other excellent breakaway goals in 19/20 such as Costa v Cardiff and Harrison v Reading. The first goal back in the Premier League - also scored by Harrison - could have been included as well, as could have either of Rodrigo's brace against Burnley and Raphinha's goal at West Brom last season. From this season, Ayling's spectacular strike against Manchester United would have been included if it weren't for what followed as Leeds collapsed to lose 5-1.

Which goals would make your list? Let us know in the comments below.

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