Leeds United U21s 2-0 OGC Nice U21s highlights: McGurk and Allen get Whites off to winning start in PL International Cup
Michael Skubala’s squad have been drawn in the eight-team Group A alongside Nice, Sparta Praha, PSV Eindhoven, Hertha Berlin, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers’ youngsters.
The competition was introduced in 2014 to provide players in Category One academies across England with the opportunity to play against other elite European footballers within the same age group in a competitive environment.
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Hide AdThis is the first year Leeds have entered the competition, and only the second edition since the coronavirus pandemic curtailed the tournament in 2019/20.
Twenty-four teams enter at the group stage, separated into three lots of eight. Teams finishing first or second in their respective groups automatically qualify for the quarter-final, while the two best third-placed sides also make up the last eight of the competition.
All fixtures are hosted in England, meaning Leeds are the home side for each of their four outings against the foreign opposition they will face during the group stage.
Leeds’ youngsters have been in good form this season, winning three of their opening five Premier League 2 fixtures, in the new 26-team, single-tiered PL2 division.
Build-up, team news, goal and score updates and live coverage here throughout the evening. Tonight’s fixture takes place at Elland Road and kicks off at 7pm.
Leeds United U21s 2-0 OGC Nice U21s LIVE
Leeds team news
XI: Klaesson, Coleman, Monteiro, Mullen, Hjelde, Crew, Gyabi, Bate, McGurk, Allen, Douglas
Subs: Christy, Thomas, Carole, Ferguson, Debayo
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Team news in half an hour
Not long to go now until teams are announced.
Full marks to anybody who knows anything about the opposition XI.
Weather and player forecast
It’s raining les chats et les chiens out there. Darko Gyabi and Lewis Bate both set to be involved.
OGC Nice form
Last four games:
W - 2-1 vs Luynes - (R1)
D - 2-2 vs Strasbourg B - (Friendly)
L - 1-2 vs Arles Avignon - (R1)
L - 2-6 vs Carnoux - (R1)
Early team news
Daniel Farke said in his pre-match press conference this afternoon that last season’s Under-21s top scorer Mateo Joseph is likely to feature for the 21s whilst he returns to full fitness after an ankle problem.
The England U20 forward is regarded as a fringe first-team player after impressing during pre-season but has missed the start to the Whites’ Championship campaign through injury.
Leeds’ scorers this season
4 - Sean McGurk
3 - Luca Thomas
2 - Connor Douglas
1 - Kris Moore
1 - Cian Coleman
1 - Morten Spencer
1 - Charlie Allen
1 - Darko Gyabi
1 - Lewis Bate
Leeds U21s form
Last five games:
L - 2-3 vs Reading U21 - (PL2)
W- 3-2 vs Colchester United U21 - (PL Cup)
W- 2-1 vs Stoke City U21 - (PL Cup)
L - 2-5 vs West Ham United U21 - (PL2)
W- 2-1 vs Manchester United U21 - (PL2)
Tonight’s opponents
Nice’s reserves were relegated from the fifth tier of French football last season, otherwise known as Championnat National 3, picking up 21 points from 24 matches.
This year, they are at the sixth step: Régional 1. Their first outing at that level this season came against Carnoux FC, who defeated Nice 6-2.
Since then, Les Aiglons have been beaten 2-1 by Arles Avignon in league action and drawn 2-2 with Strasbourg’s B team but picked up their first league win of the campaign at the weekend, beating Luynes 2-1 in Régional 1 Méditerranée.
Their coach is former Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard.
Welcome to Elland Road
We’re back at the site of Georginio Rutter’s skill school against Watford this evening, to witness Leeds’ youngsters take their first steps in the Premier League International Cup this season.
Some of Rutter’s compatriots will be on show for this evening’s visitors, as OGC Nice are tonight’s opposition.
Michael Skubala’s side will be up to the test having performed well throughout each of their fixtures so far this season.
Kick-off is 7pm. Team news from 6. Follow it live here.