Red Bull Derby

Leeds United 2-0 RB Leipzig (Friendly)

In 2024, soft drinks company Red Bull (who have their hands in one or two other things) purchased a minority stake in Leeds United to grow their ever-flapping sporting franchise wiiings.

As well as having majority stakes in Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil, RB Omiya Ardija in Japan, FC Liefering in Austria, and minority stakes now in Leeds and Paris FC, one of the most successful franchises of the well-known energy brand is RB Leipzig, a German team founded as recently as 2009 after they purchased Oberliga (fifth tier) minnows SSV Markranstädt and changed their future history forever.

Ever-since, RB (short for RasenBallsport as both Red Bull and the Red Bull logo were forbidden to appear in the name of a German league football club) have climbed the divisions, earning the tag of Germans ‘most’ hated team in the process. Not one for the purists who prefer community ran 50+1 schemes over corporate enterprises fast tracking their way to success.

Within eight years RB Leipzig went from regional football to the Bundesliga, finishing second to Bayern Munich in their first ever year in the top division (2016/17) and getting in the Champions League, where they have been a regular ever-since.

Still to win the top tier they have twice finished runners up, four times third, never as low as seventh and have twice won the DFB Pokal (the equivalent to the FA Cup in England).

Leeds United go back a little further, but not as far as you might think, formed in 1919 after their predecessor Leeds City disbanded due to allegations of illegal payments to players during the first world war.

The Peacocks golden era came under the great Don Revie, who in 1964 led the side to promotion after winning Division Two, they had back to back second placed finishes in the First Division and won the Football League Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 before taking the top flight title the season after for the very first time, they were beaten by Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup after a replay in 1970 and finished second three years in a row before taking the title again in 1974, winning the FA Cup along the way, after beating Arsenal in 72, they did famously lose to Sunderland in 73, and reached the final of the European Cup in 75.

Post Revie, Leeds have had ‘some’ good moments, but mostly average, in 1982 they suffered relegation to the second tier but bounced back in 1990, and took the Football League title again in 1992 this time under Howard Wilkinson, later under David O’Leary I remember them having some great years playing in the Champions League but for three seasons they were in the third tier during 2007-10 and after ten years that followed in the Championship, they enjoyed three seasons back in the Premier League before relegation in 2023, but after winning the title with 100 points in 2025, under Daniel Farke, they enjoyed a steady season back in the Premier League last year, and will be tipped this time to do ok again.

So, a new-found link between the two is a sponsor that is notorious for backing teams to buy low and sell high, RB Leipzig have recently benefitted from this in the sale of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid, originally signed from Leganes for €20m they are rumoured to have accepted over €125m for last seasons star player who went to the World Cup with Ivory Coast. Meanwhile Leeds United have just signed goalkeeper James Trafford for £40m, this after the England international joined Manchester City only last year for £31m and mainly sat on their bench. Perhaps some further advice on buying and selling, can still be passed on by Red Bull's bosses?

The Venue

I’ve been asked to watch over this game today and I’ve head out the door early, a sunny Saturday mid-morning for a 2pm kick off, I want to get parked up in nearby Beeston, up the hill from Elland Road, I’m off the M1 and M621 where traffic is still light, before pulling up on a street of terraced houses full of caged doors, I would rather not park my car here, but it’s as close as I’ll get without paying, and needs must.

It’s a short walk down the hill of the Holbeck Park and it’s pretty cool, as you see the Leeds city centre skyline in the background, and the huge imposing East Stand ever-nearing.

It’s a lovely walk down in the sun, much tougher back up, but once at the foot of the hill the calmness changes to that festival feel that football often provides, white and yellow shirts everywhere under the scorching blue skies, it’s a busy old crowd, I’m these days used to non-league football and the lower echelons of the English game, but there’s nothing like a big club matchday, and Leeds United is certainly a big bloody football club.

There’s Red Bull BMX bikers doing tricks outside the Centenary Club as a DJ plays dance music out of a Red Bull sponsored Land Rover, those Mini’s you sometimes see with a huge can of Red Bull on their backs, two of them provide photo opportunities for kids who think they look cool, Red Bull parasols keep some folk shaded under the sun, you feel if any brand in the world does sponsorship to its absolute maximum potential, Red Bull is that brand! After all, anyone who’s tasted the drink, will know it’s pretty crap.

There’s a queue to get in through the turnstiles, outside is jam packed a good 90 minutes from kick off, but eventually the doors open and there’s a scurry upstairs, I’m in the top tier of the Jack Charlton stand today, and it’s bloody high up as I pass an old woman having a breather on the steps “You should try going to Newcastle away” says a steward “that’s much worse”.

Once up, the view is magnificent, pitch green, chequered, set back and centred around a swirling bowl which when full is around 37,000 but plans are in place to increase that to 53,000 by 2030. Not needed today, although three sides are in play, the stand opposite which houses the player dugouts, empty.

The Game

Marching on Together is sung by all bar me, sat in the corner high up where there’s space around with a decent panoramic view of the play, RB Leipzig in a rather bright red and yellow number, Leeds in all white as usual, as play starts and the home side on the front foot go at their opponents from the off.

It’s a good start too, they have a goal chalked off for a foul in the box following an early corner before a decent move down the right has centre half Joe Rodon of all players, cantering down the wing before centering to an unmarked Dominic Calvert-Lewin who does the rest.

The former England striker (can we call him former?) scored 14 Premier League goals last season and has become a firm favourite since moving to Elland Road, looking in good shape, hungry, fit, you feel this has been a brilliant move since joining from Everton where he long suffered with injuries and I’ll back him to reach similar scoring figures (fitness pending) again.

That early goal settles the game which eases into some slow possession-based football, by now RB Leipzig have got to grips with the playing conditions and are stroking it about whilst looking to patiently probe openings. Ezechiel Banzuzi picking it up deep, he and Arthur Vermeeren doing the proportion of simple ball keeping whilst slightly in front of them, Max Finkgrafe has a bit of sophisticated suave in his touches as he tries to make things happen with his tidy left foot.

Tidiam Gomis out left and Johan Bakayoko out right are the pacey wide men they look to play in behind, but both are well kept quiet by left back James Justin and right back Jayden Bogle respectively, the game is trudging along then suddenly, after 30 minutes, the Referee blows his whistle.

The Score

It seems like today’s match is four quarters of half an hour each, which nobody told me about? It’s not the most enthralling contest and I’ve given up a better pay day in the National League to be at this match, so I’m already thinking about sodding off after 90 minutes, I don’t get paid overtime for friendlies.

The second period is much of a muchness, Leeds impress on the break through the lively Dan James who’s end product often frustratingly lets him down, good home debuts for Harry Wilson who signed from Fulham, and Tarik Muharemovic, a defensive capture from Sassuolo, are about as positive as it gets, but the football on this hot day is low tempo, nothing more than a keep-ball practice session between two newly acquainted friends.

There’s a half time break on the hour which lasts fifteen minutes, after which, Daniel Farke changes the majority of his team. Of the new crop I’m impressed with the pace and work rate of Max Aaronson whilst young teen midfielder Callum Mills comes on, he instantly tries a Zidane spin and falls over, the Referee giving him no sympathy as he’s on the deck arms out wide appealing, I’m impressed by some of his subtle touches, a lively young boy with confidence.

Martin Demichelis is Leipzig manager, he shuffles his pack too, by now I haven’t a clue who’s playing where as I’m sat so far away the numbers aren’t all that clear, not that I’ve been given any numbers for the away side anyway? But it matters little, as there’s not a lot to see? Not much happens, and as the whistle blows for 90, I join a whole host of Leeds fans who think the same, a huge proportion of people heading for the exits, I’ll be surprised if there’s anyone in to watch the last half hour?

On my way up through the Holbeck Park I hear a cheer so take out my phone and stick-on YouTube’s live feed as I walk to the car, but the score is still 1-0, a crowning goal is eventually netted by Lukas Nmecha after good work from Willy Gnonto, but by the time that goes in, I’m already on the M621.

The Stars

I’m impressed with the fluidity of Leeds and in that system players like Joe Rodon at centre half, are allowed to get forward because Ethan Ampadu cleverly sits in from midfield. Full backs Jayden Bogle and James Justin are both forward thinking too, fast and fit, of good quality, out wide they have pace and flair, in Daniel James who’s not everyone's cup of tea, but he’s certainly an outlet with speed, in Harry Wilson, who is your different type of wide player, cutting in, bolstering the midfield centrally, but with high end quality in the final third.

Leeds stand out player goes by the initials of DCL. If they can keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit this season, they have a forward who can net fifteen plus goals in the Premier League, without him they might suffer as across the team, goals look harder to come by.

As for Leipzig, I probably had my eyes on them a little more than Leeds having not watched much of them recently. New signing from Burnley, Maxime Esteve looked very good at centre half alongside Castello Lukeba who is very highly rated indeed, he's combative and strong.

In midfield I quite liked the athletic attributes of Ezechiel Banzuzi who kept things relatively simple in the ‘enforcer’ role, whilst Max Finkgrafe who by trade is a left back, he caught my eye in a higher central midfield position where he could get on the ball and create in the final third almost as a no10.

Up front, a quiet afternoon for star Brazilian striker Romulo, whilst out wide a player I liked whilst at PSV was Johan Bakayoko, he didn’t disappoint again, always looking to take on his man, opposite him on the left, 20 year old Frenchman Tidian Gomis had something about him, tall and quick, an exciting prospect signed in February this year, from Caen.

The Verdict

Leeds finished fourteenth last season and I firmly believe, if they can keep their star striker fit, they’ll do better than that this season. Defensive reinforcements have improved their back line (Trafford and Muharemovic both excellent signings) and Harry Wilson is a savvy capture from Fulham too. They may lack fire power without Calvert-Lewin, but the likes of Wilson, Nmecha, James, Aaronson, all should chip in.

As for Leipzig, they have a huge squad of quality, mixed with youth and experience, a new young Coach who’s learning his trade, they have a good chance for repeating their third place finish of last season, whether they can go one better and pip Borussia Dortmund to second is one thing, I doubt that they (or anybody) has the tools to topple Bayern?

The Red Bull franchise is all about finding great players and flipping them on for profit, whilst the success of this concept will never lead to prolonged dominance, it will potentially mean that Leeds United, like RB Leipzig, becomes a good breeding ground for future stars to come, and if history is anything to go by, it always has been, so that shouldn't be an issue.

The Teams

Leeds United: Alex Cairns (Rory Mahady 75), Jayden Bogle (Rhys Chadwick 80), James Justin (Willy Gnonto 80), Joe Rodon (Jayden Lienou 60), Tarik Muharemovic (Alfie Creswell 80), Sebastian Bornauw (Jaka Bijol 60), Ethan Ampadu (Brenden Aaronson 60), Sean Longstaff (Ao Tanaka 60), Daniel James (Anton Stach 60), Harry Wilson (Callum Mills 75), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Lukas Nmecha 60).

RB Leipzig: Maarten Vandervoordt, Maxime Esteve (Willi Orban 60), Ezechiel Banzuzi (Eljif Elmas 60), Castello Lukeba (El Chadaille Bitshiabu 60), Tidiam Gomis (Sani Suleiman 60 (Lutsharel Geertruida 90)), Andrija Maksimovic (Samba Konate 60 (Ayodele Thomas 90)), Max Finkgrafe (David Raum 80), Benjamin Henrichs (Ridle Baku 60), Romulo (Conrad Harder 60), Arthur Vermeeren (Nicolas Seiwald 60), Johan Bakayoko (Brajan Gruda 60).

2:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 8th August 2026, Elland Road, Leeds (att 24,630).