Leeds United and Crystal Palace met at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon with both sides looking to strengthen their position before the first international break of the season. Leeds arrived unbeaten after four Premier League matches, while Palace were hoping their midweek European victory could provide a boost to their league campaign. With Farke’s side looking to maintain their strong start and Palace seeking greater consistency in the top flight, the encounter provided another important test for both teams.
Leeds came into the game on the back of an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United, but they found it difficult to reproduce the same attacking fluency against a well-organised Palace side.
Leeds made a positive start, with Anton Stach seeing an early free-kick blocked before an Ethan Ampadu long throw fell to James Justin, whose effort was stopped inside the area. Tarik Muharemović then headed narrowly wide from a corner, while the defender was also required to make a perfectly timed challenge to prevent Jørgen Strand Larsen from breaking through on goal.
Palace gradually grew into the contest, with Daichi Kamada testing James Trafford after a neat attacking move involving Strand Larsen. Quinten Timber and Adam Wharton also saw efforts blocked as both sides created opportunities during an open first half.
The visitors began the second period with greater attacking intent. Yéremy Pino’s free-kick forced Trafford into a good save, while Jefferson Lerma fired over from the resulting corner and Kamada sent another effort narrowly wide.
Palace thought they had finally broken the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Tyrick Mitchell finished from close range. However, VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out after Anan Khalaili was judged to have been offside earlier in the move.
Leeds then came close to taking the lead themselves. James Justin delivered from the right after good work from Jayden Bogle, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin meeting the cross from close range. Walter Benítez reacted quickly to keep out the England striker’s effort.
Palace continued to threaten, but Ethan Ampadu produced an important last-ditch challenge to deny Kamada inside the area. The Japanese midfielder later headed wide from another promising position as the visitors continued to search for a winner.
Neither side could find the decisive breakthrough, leaving Leeds with a point that keeps their unbeaten record intact. The result means Farke’s side head into the international break with nine points from their opening five Premier League matches.
Farke admitted afterwards that his team had not produced their best attacking performance, but he was pleased with their ability to avoid defeat.
“Like always, a bit mixed emotions after the game,” Farke told the media. “Of course, we would have preferred to win this game, there is no doubt about it.”
He added: “Sometimes it is also when you have to dig in. It was one of those games with many things I liked. I liked that we extended our unbeaten run, I liked our clean sheet and I liked that if we then also can’t win a game, we showed that attitude that, okay, at least we don’t lose it.”
The Leeds manager also acknowledged that Palace made life difficult for his team.
“Offensive-wise, football-wise, it was definitely not our best game today. We were a bit too loose with the ball,” he said.
“We didn’t move the ball quick enough, more or less from side to side, because credit to Crystal Palace, they were well-structured and difficult to open and defended really well.”
For Palace, the draw brought their first league clean sheet of the campaign after they had conceded 11 goals across their opening four matches. Pierre Sage’s side also created several chances and will take four points from their first five league games into the international break.
Sage said afterwards: “We made a good game and a good performance. Maybe we deserved better but I remember that our goalkeeper made a big save, that’s why in football when you have the opportunities you have to score. It was not the case but I’m really proud of the performance and commitment.”
“It was our first clean sheet and we continue to play offensively well which is why we created chances but I’m a bit frustrated today. The most important thing is to create the chances and that was the case.”
The result leaves Leeds unbeaten after five league matches, while Palace will look to build on their improved defensive display when the Premier League resumes after the international break.
