For their final pre-season game United had a fixture with Atalanta BC of Bergamo in the Italian Serie A on Saturday 30th July 2016 with a 3pm kick-off.
It attracted 11,832 which included about 140 who came from Atalanta. Barry Monk gave a start to Italian trialist Gabriele Perico at right back for what turned
out to be his only appearance in the white jersey. With Liam Cooper still not fully fit from a calf strain, while Gaetano Berardi was named on the bench even
though he was carrying a leg injury. Monk's team lined up: (4-3-3 formation): Rob Green; Gabriele Perico, Kyle Bartley, Souleymane Bamba, Charlie Taylor;
Toumani Diagouraga, Ronaldo Vieira, Alex Mowatt; Stuart Dallas, Kemar Roofe, Chris Wood. Substitutes: Marco Silvestri, Ross Turnbull, Lewie Coyle,
Gaetano Berardi, Paul McKay, Tyler Denton, Matt Grimes, Luke Murphy, Kalvin Phillips, Hadi Sacko, Jordan Botaka, Marcus Antonsson, Souleymane
Doukara. The Italians lined up (3-4-3 formation): Davide Bassi; Andrea Masiello, Rafael Toloi, Christian Raimondi; Adrea Conti, Franck Kessie, Jasmin
Kurtic, Leonardo Spinazzola; Marco D'Alessandro, Alberto Poloschi, Alejandro Gomez. Substitutues: Stefano Mazzini, Guglielmo Stendardo, Roberto
Gagliardini, Giulio Migliaccio, Remo Freuler, Mattia Caldara, Carlos Carmona, Andrea Petagna, Berat Djimsiti, Guido Marilungo, Boukary Drame. Local
Wakefield born Referee Robert Madley was the referee. The game got off toa slow start and it was the visitors that that had the first shot on goal in the eighth
minute, but Leeds keeper, Rob Green, comfortably dealt with a tame shot from Alejandro Gomez from twenty-five yard. But it was soon afterwards that United
went down the other end and threatened the visitors' goal when Kemar Roofe cut inside from the left but his right- footed shot was marginally too high. The
visitors next launched an offensive and both Charlie Taylor, who stopped a shot from Marco D'Alessandro just inside the area, and Ronaldo Vieira, in the
fifteenth minute, with a crunching slide-tackle on the same player, were called upon to make crucial blocks from Atalanta's swift counter attacks. Gabriele
Perico did show up well on one occasion, in the nineteenth minute, when he was well positioned to steer a dangerous cross from the left behind for a corner
as the Italians capitalized on their speed on the break. From the resulting corner Rob Green collected the cross with ease. It was United that struck the first
meaningful blow in the contest when Chris Wood gave them the lead from the penalty spot in the twenty-fifth minute. A Stuart Dallas free-kick was launched
into the penalty box and, although Chris Wood put the ball into the net at the back post, the referee had seen an Italian hand connect with the ball and had
pointed to the spot, and so the goal did not stand. Chris Wood stepped up and emphatically converted the shot from twelve yards, drilling the ball past Davide
Bassi and into the bottom right corner of the net. This time the goal counted! The lead did not last for long as the visitors drew level just six minutes later, when
they had taken possession after Franck Kessie had dispossessed Ronaldo Vieira in midfield and had then found Marco D'Alessandro inside the box with a
fine through ball and the striker swivelled and got in a first time shot which easily beat Rob Green and found the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Five minutes
later Atalanta almost found themselves in the lead but Souleymane Bamba came to United's rescue as he brilliantly hooked a shot from the diminutive
Argentinian, Alejandro Gomez, off the line after it had got past Rob Green. Gabriele Perico caught the fast and elusive Alejandro Gomez, but it was by means
of a sything late tackle for which he picked up a yellow card. Souleymane Bamba then put a forty-fifth minute corner into the crowd in the south stand and the
scores were level at 1-1 as they went off for the half- time break. Garry Monk brought on Lewie Coyle for the trialist Gabriele Perico and Hadi Sacko for Stuart
Dallas when the sides restarted. There was no real events of any significance in the first fifteen minutes of the new half, apart from a spectacular effort from
thirty-yards by Andrea Conti, in the fiftieth minute, which caused Rob Green no discomfort, as it passed his right-hand post. Christian Ramondi then fired wide
from distance before Garry Monk made two further changes in the sixty-second minute, both in midfield, with Matt Grimes replacing Toumanu Diagouraga and
Kalvin Phillips coming on for Alex Mowatt. However, the game was sparked into life by the pace of Hadi Sacko, who announced his arrival by making a lightning
run down the right before crossing. Only a crucial touch from Rafael Toloi prevented Kemar Roofe from scoring with a simple tap in. However, from the resulting
corner, Kemar Roofe scored his first goal for Leeds when he turned Kalvin Phillips' low cross into the net with a deft touch at the near post, from close-range, in
the sixty-eighth minute. In the seventy-first minute Marcus Antonsson came on for the last twenty minutes in place of Chris Wood. Two minutes later Atlanta's
Slovenian midfielder, Jasmin Kurtic, fired in a good shot from twenty yards which forced Rob Green to make a fingertip save and push the ball over the bar. The
visitors continued to press and in the seventy-fifth minute Alberto Palosch had the ball in the net after beating Rob Green with a half-volley from close range, but
the linesman ruled it out for offside. Just seven minutes later there were two more changes by the home side as Luke Murphy replaced Ronaldo Vieira and
Jordan Botaka came on for Kemar Roofe as all the serious contenders for first choice places were given a chance to impress the new manager. With seven
minutes to go it was United's turn to have a goal ruled out for offside after Marcus Antonsson had, what he thought was, a perfectly good goal disallowed after
scoring at the far post. He was naturally disappointed that he could not score his first goal at Elland Road. United were looking comfortable as the referee
signalled three minutes of extra- time but in that time Rob Green was called upon to make two fine saves from two of the Atalanta substitutes, firstly Boukary
Drame and then Guido Marilungo, who fired in a shot on the turn but the former England keeper beat away the powerful shot to preserve United's 2-1 lead as
United ran out winners. The two goalkeepers, Marco Silvestrie and Ross Turnbull, the injured Gaetano Berardi, two youngsters, Paul McKay and Tyler Denton,
along with Souleymane Doukara, the last in the pecking order for the striker/winger position, remained unused on the bench.
MATCH REPORT: Yorkshire Evening Post by Lee Sobot: 30-07-2016
Match Report: Leeds United 2 Atalanta 1 - Whites raise the Roofe against Italians.
LEEDS United signed off their pre-season with a gutsy 2-1 victory against Italian Serie A side Atalanta at Elland Road thanks to a second-half winner from
Kemar Roofe. Chris Wood gave United a 25th-minute lead with a bizarrely awarded penalty but a dangerous Atalanta side levelled just six minutes later through
Marco D’Alessandro. But summer signing Roofe put United back in front after the break when flicking home a Kalvin Phillips corner with 22 minutes left. Whites
head coach Garry Monk named 13 substitutes and gave a start to Italian trialist Gabi Perico at right back. Charlie Taylor started at left back with Sol Bamba
captaining the side and partnering Kyle Bartley at centre-back, ahead of Rob Green in goal. Stuart Dallas made his first start of pre-season on the left wing, with
Roofe on the opposite flank and Wood up top as centre forward. Alex Mowatt lined up just behind the front three in centre-midfield, ahead of Toumani Diagouraga
and Ronaldo Viera as holding midfielders. Liam Cooper missed out with his calf injury with Gaetano Beardi also not risked after his leg injury but named on the
bench. And after a series of half chances for both sides, Wood gave United a 25th-minute lead with a penalty awarded for handball. A Dallas free-kick from the
centre circle was floated into the area and Wood thumped home the loose ball past Davide Bassi in goal. However, referee Robert Madley blew his whistle for
what appeared to be an Atalanta free-kick, only to then point to the penalty spot for handball. Wood stepped up to take the spot kick and thumped the ball past
Bassi into the bottom right corner. United’s lead lasted only six minutes as the Italian side hit back through a clinical counter attack finished by the excellent Marco
D’Allesandro. Vieira, who had a fine first half otherwise, was dispossessed in midfield, allowing Franck Kessie to gallop at United’s back four. Kessie then played
in D’Allesandro down the right hand side and the Atalanta forward rifled a powerful drive past Green into the bottom left corner. The Italian side began to dominate
and their star player Alejandro Gomez was only denied six minutes later by a brilliant goalline clearance from Bamba. Gomez stuck out an outstretched leg to prod
a long, looping ball past Green but Bamba was in the right place at the right time to keep the scores level. Trialist Perico was then booked for scything down
Gomez in midfield and Bamba then put a looping effort into the top tier of the south stand from a 45th-minute corner. And Atalanta then went agonisingly close to
making it 2-1 in first-half injury time when Gomez curled an effort just wide of Green’s left hand post. Atalanta then began the second half in the same fashion as
they ended the first with Andrea Conti rifling a 30-yard thunderbolt just over and wide. Cristian Ramondi then fired wide from range as the Italian’s continued to
press but it was United who bagged the game’s third goal after 68 minutes. Substitute Hadi Sacko’s fine right flank delivery was headed behind for a Whites
corner which was swung in low by another Whites sub in Phillips. There appeared little danger but Roofe was on hand to nip in before ‘keeper Bassi and flick the
ball home infront of a delighted Kop. United were heading for victory but Green was then forced to produce a stunning save to tip a curling effort from Jasmin Kurtic
around the post. D’Alessandro then thumped home an effort from inside the area but his effort was greeted by an offside flag amid jeers from Elland Road as the
contest entered its final 15 minutes. United were then denied a third goal when substitute Marcus Antonnson’s effort at the back post was ruled offside. Atalanta
looked to be running out of steam but right at the death Green produced a stunning save from point blank range to deny Guido Marilungo.
Leeds United: Green, Perico (Coyle 45), Bartley, Bamba, Taylor, Diagouraga (Grimes 62), Vieira (Botaka 80), Mowatt (Phillips 62), Dallas (Sacko 45),
Roofe (Murphy 80), Wood (Antonsson 71). Subs: Silvestri, Turnbull, Berardi, P McKay, Denton, Doukara.
Atalanta: Bassi; Masiello, Toloi, Raimondi; Conti, Kessie, Kurtic, Spinazzola; D’alessandro, Paloschi, Gomez. Subs: Stendardo, Gagliardini, Migliaccio,
Freuler, Caldara, Petagna, Mazzini, Djimsiti, Marilungo, Drame’, Carmona, Drame’.
Referee: Robert Madley.
MATCH REPORT: Yorkshire Post: Phil Hay: 30-07-2016
Leeds United: ‘Real work starts now’ admits boss Garry Monk as new season looks set to bring new faces
LEEDS UNITED ended their pre-season campaign with a fine 2-1 win over Serie A side Atalanta... and a promise from manager Garry Monk that there is
more to come from his side. Monk, while pleased to go into next week’s opening game of the Championship season with a victory behind him, knows there is
a long way to go before he has the side playing the kind of style he expects from his teams. The new Elland Road manager believes his side will draw on the
confidence gained from beating Atalanta, goals from Chris Wood and Kemar Roofe securing the victory, as they prepare to face QPR on the opening weekend.
However, he made it clear there was plenty of hard work still to be done before their trip to Loftus Road. It is not unusual for Leeds fans to enter the new season
with a touch of optimism, they have seen many a new dawn break over Elland Road with new managers coming and ultimately going again in recent years.
Monk’s arrival has seemingly given the club, fans and players a welcome much-needed boost. While off-field confusion continues with regard a possible take-over
and whether Massimo Cellino really is ready to finally sell, the new manager has quietly set about re-building his squad... and there could yet be more new faces
arriving this week. “It’s always good to end your pre-season with a victory,” he said. “You take that confidence into next week’s training and you take that into the
game. But we know that the real work starts now. I’ve been happy with pre-season. I think we have been working in a good way. We still need more to do, there’s a
lot more improvement that we need to do as a team but in terms of pre-season and where they are, having worked with them for just five weeks I think they have
been working in a good way. We are looking forward to the season." And the promise of some new players? Monk refused to be drawn on individual targets but
was asked in which areas he would like to strengthen and replied: “As a manager I could probably tell you that there are always positions that you would love to
strengthen. But we have identified them and I am sure you will see it in the coming days. You will see the positions that we are trying to look for and then we go from
there. But I don’t talk about players. We keep that in house. We keep our business respectful.” So will the new players arrive in time for QPR on Sunday? “Of course.
We are working in a good way and I have said before, I keep saying it, there’s many facets to a deal that you need to consider. It’s not always from the side of the
club that will want a player,” he said. “Every manager would tell you they would love to have every single player by the first day of the season but it’s until that transfer
window is closed. If we can do the business this week that we want to do it would be great. But of course we are confident, I am very confident that we will have the
squad when that window is closed and hopefully it is within a shorter period. When that window is closed we have to be ready and we have to be confident that we
have the squad that is ready for a long old season. We do need to strengthen the squad but we know that. I’m sure that come the close of the transfer window we
will have the squad that we are happy with and that will be ready to compete this season in this league.”
MATCH REPORT: By Jake Beales-Hobson : 30-07-2016
Leeds 2 Atalanta 1: United finish off pre-season with a win
A Chris Wood penalty and a goal for summer signing Kemar Roofe was the difference as Leeds United defeated Seria A outfit Atalanta 2-1 in the club’s final
game of pre-season. Leeds took the lead mid-way through the first half. A deep free-kick towards the back post was initially put into the net by Chris Wood but
referee Bobby Madley’s whistle had already gone for a foul in the box. Wood stepped up and scored, this time, it did count. Atalanta responded in style just five
minutes later. A lovely run and through ball by Frank Kessie set free Marco D’Alessandro on the edge of the box. His swivel allowed him the time and space to find a
beauty of a finish past Rob Green to make it 1-1. Atalanta threatened to take the lead soon after but a last ditch goal-line clearance by Leeds captain Sol Bamba
denied Alejandro Gomez. Half-chances fell to both sides before half time but neither side managed to trouble either goalkeeper. The game was nicely poised at 1-1
at the interval. The second half started quietly with neither side threatening a clear-cut chance before Leeds took the lead mid-way through the second half. Kalvin
Phillips’ corner was nudged in at the near-post by new summer signing Kemar Roofe to make it 2-1 in the 68th minute. Atalanta almost forced a quick response but
for a superb save by Rob Green. A 20-yard curled effort from Jasmin Curtic was tipped over the bar brilliantly. Moments later, Atalanta had the ball in the net for a
second time but ex-Swansea striker Alberto Paloschi had his effort ruled out for offside. Ten minutes from time, it was Leeds’ turn to have a goal ruled out for offside.
Bartley’s header found its way to Antonsson who had strayed into an offside position. His pass was eventually bundled in at the far post but the referee Bobby Madley
had already blown for offside. Atalanta pushed for a last-gasp equaliser but Boukary Drame and Guido Marilungo both had efforts saved by Rob Green in the final
minutes but it was not enough as Leeds held on to an impressive victory. Leeds’ man of the match was undoubtedly Ronaldo Vieira. The youngster put in a classy
display in his final chance to impress Garry Monk before the season opener against QPR. Vieira looked calm, composed and confident on the ball alongside
Toumani Diagouraga. It is highly likely that his performance was enough to convince Monk he should be involved in the season opener. Other notable positives were
goalscorer Kemar Roofe who looked a danger going forward. Kyle Bartley looked calm and collected alongside Sol Bamba at centre-back. Stuart Dallas and
Charlie Taylor were also solid despite very little playing time between them so far in pre-season. Trialist Gabi Perico, stepping in for the injured Gaetano Berardi,
was faced with the challenge of keeping Atalanta’s top goalscorer from last season, Alejandro Gomez, quiet. He dealt with the majority that came his way in his 45
minute spell but it is yet unclear if he has shown enough to warrant himself a contract.
FT: Leeds United 2-1 Atalanta Attendance: 11,832.
