It's back! After what's felt like a never-ending summer, the football season is back and the third game of the opening weekend takes place at Elland Road. Plenty to get through before kickoff in half an hour, so let's start with the teams...
LEEDS XI: Silvestri; Berardi, Bamba, Bellusci, Taylor; Adeyemi, Cook, Mowatt; Byram, Dallas; Wood
Subs: Turnbull, Cooper, Wootton, Phillips, Doukara, Erwin, Antenucci
No surprises from new Leeds boss
Uwe Rosler, who names three debutants in his starting lineup. Tom Adeyemi and
Chris Wood were expected to start, but there was a question mark over the left side of attack and it is their newest signing,
Stuart Dallas, who gets the nod over Souleymane Doukara.
BURNLEY XI: Heaton; Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Kightly; Jutkiewicz, Vossen
Subs: Gilks, Ward, Sordell, Vokes, Taylor, Dummigan, Anderson
Sean Dyche, meanwhille, names two new signings in his starting lineup. Tendayi Darikwa starts ahead of the injured Matthew Lowton at right-back, while in attack
Jelle Vossen gets the nod ahead of
Sam Vokes.
Dyche also confirmed ahead of kickoff that goalkeeper
Tom Heaton is captain this season. Here he is getting interviewed pre-match:
Leeds also have a new captain in
Sol Bamba, who joined the Whites permanently this summer from Palermo after impressing on loan. In my
season preview of the Yorkshire side, I picked out Bamba as their key player because the club needs leadership after a rocky season last year.
Myself and two colleagues have picked Leeds to finish 13th this season, but a top-half or maybe better finish could be on the cards. Rosler has signed well and there seems to be more stability than 12 months ago. Interestingly, almost 50% of our readers think that Leeds will finish in the playoffs.
Moving on to Burnley, it's been a tough summer for the Lancashire side after being relegated straight back to the Championship. They've lost three key players in Danny Ings (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham) and Jason Shackell (Derby), but should still be a contender. Not many sides work harder than Dyche's and they still have plenty of quality.
We've picked George Boyd as the Clarets' key player and think that they will finish fifth this season.
Click here to read our season preview and cast your vote on where you think Burnley will finish come May.
If you want to see our full prediction for the 2015-16 Championship season and read previews for each and every side, then you should
head this way for our index.
Looking at the two clubs' pre-season form - Leeds only picked up one win in their last friendly, but it was an impressive one as they beat Everton a week ago. Burnley won four and lost two of their summer matches.
In terms of competitive results, both sides finished last season fairly poorly. Leeds won just one of their last eight in the Championship, while Burnley didn't score more than one in their last 14 Premier League games, failing to score on nine occasions.
H2H: Leeds have won five of their last six home matches against the Clarets, though they lost the last clash at Elland Road in Burnley's promotion year two seasons ago. Dyche's side won both meetings that year and there has not been a draw between these two sides in their last 18 meetings.
© Getty Images
PREDICTION: Despite that last stat, I am going to go for a draw today. Last night's opening game of the season between Brighton and Forest was a good watch (
Brighton won 1-0) and I'm hoping for another enthralling match. I'm struggling to separate these two, so am going for a
2-2 draw.
As for you guys, 72% of our readers have picked Leeds to claim victory on our
in-depth match preview.
As the teams come out of the tunnel at a rocking Elland Road, let me just remind you that there is another early kickoff in the Championship today and it's currently 0-0 between Cardiff and Fulham, which kicked off at 12.
KICKOFF! Interestingly, Burnley won the toss and have swapped ends so that Leeds have to kick towards the Kop in the first half. Leeds, in their lovely new retro, sponsorless kit get us underway!
Burnley are the first side to get the ball in the box, but Kightly's low delivery is dealt with by Bamba. Wood receives the ball on the halfway line and distributes well. He really impressed me against Everton with his hold-up play. Let's see if he can deliver again today.
Today's referee is
Kevin Friend and he awards Leeds a free kick 35 yards out after what looked like a firm but fair challenge by Darikwa.
Both the first and a second free kick won by Leeds come to nothing as Burnley defend well. It's a glorious day in Yorkshire, by the way. Proper opening-weekend weather.
Half-chance for Wood as Byram wins a flick-on. The striker gets to the ball first, but he can't fashion a shooting opportunity under pressure from Keane. Bright start by Leeds.
CHANCE! First real chance of the match as Vossen's inswinging cross heads towards Jutkiewicz at the back post. The striker is tussling with Taylor and he can only flick it over from about seven yards. He wants a penalty, but it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. If anything, Silvestri should have been more alert and off his line quickly to prevent the opening.
The first four minutes of the game belonged to Leeds, but Burnley have improved in the last few. Great start.
OFF THE BAR! So close to the opening goal as Byram beats Mee for pace down the right before dinking into the middle. Wood fluffs his lines, but the ball breaks to Dallas and his low drive takes a deflection before cannoning up off Heaton and against the crossbar. What a start to life in a Leeds shirt that would have been.
BOOKING! Leeds captain Bamba is the first player cautioned after a nasty challenge on the Burnley right.
Dallas with another half-chance as Mowatt picks him out at the back post. It looks like Dallas can't decide whether to shoot or cross on the volley and in the end gives Heaton an easy save.
The Premier League season has just began at Old Trafford, with Man United taking on Spurs and you can follow that match with us by
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"HANDBALL!" scream Jutkiewicz and the Burnley supporters and you can see why. The striker flicked the ball around Bellusci and the Italian defender clearly stopped the ball with his arm. Leeds have had a let-off there.
Penalties were a problem for Leeds last season - they conceded 13 penalties in 2014-15 - no Championship side gave away more - and they could have given one away within 20 minutes of this season!
SHOT! Leeds respond to that penalty claim with a couple of corners down the other end and after the second the ball falls for Bellusci 30 yards out. The defender's shot is well-struck, but too close to Heaton.
So, midway through the first half and it's been excellent viewing so far. Maybe I'm a little over-excited at the return of the season but I'm loving this. Leeds hit the bar through Dallas, while Burnley should have had a penalty when Bellusci handled in the area.
Excellent cross from the left by Kightly but it's equally good defending from Bamba as he gets up acrobatically to beat Boyd in the air.
Bit of a lull the last few minutes, so here's a stat for ya - there has never been a 0-0 at Elland Road between these sides. Guaranteed at least a goal!
CLOSE! This is the closest Burnley have come as Boyd and then Jutkiewicz bundle their way through before the ball reaches Kightly on the left of the area. He opens his body and sidefoots towards the far corner, agonisingly missing the target by a few centimetres.
CLOSE! Burnley are knocking on the door here as Silvestri flaps at a corner before Vossen's volley goalwards takes a couple of deflections and loops just wide.
SAVE! Silvestri was at fault a moment ago, but he's just made up for it with a fine save low to his left after Jutkiewicz had flicked Kightly's cross towards the far corner. All Burnley at the moment.
As we have a break in play due to a nasty fall for Duff, news from the Welsh capital as former Leeds player Matt Smith puts Fulham in front against Cardiff.
We're back underway at Elland Road and there's also a goal at Old Trafford as a
Kyle Walker own goal puts United in front.
Darikwa is struggling to stay with Dallas when Leeds crosses come in from the right and the latter almost has a chance but can't quite bring it under control.
CHANCE! Leeds win a corner and it's beautifully-worked short one between Cook and Mowatt. Mowatt curls to the back post after finding space and Bamba can't quite direct his header goalwards.
Half time fast approching at Elland Road and it's been a thrilling, if goalless, first 42 minutes. Leeds have gone closest when Dallas hit the bar, but Burnley have had more clear-cut chances and should have had a penalty. Don't you just love it!
Leeds win their fourth corner of the half as two minutes of added time are signalled by the fourth official. Mowatt's outswinger is comfortably dealt with by the Burnley backline.
HALF-TIME: LEEDS 0-0 BURNLEY
Well, no goals to bring you news of at Elland Road, but it has been a fun half to watch. Leeds started well, going close when Dallas hit the bar. They had the odd good moment from then on, but it was Burnley who looked more dangerous in the rest of the half.
If you're only just joining us here on
Sports Mole and want a half-time recap, then our
half-time report is just what you need.
Looking back, it certainly looked like handball by Bellusci. There did seem to be a foul on a Leeds player in the build-up, though, so maybe justice was done.
It would be a surprise if either manager made any half-time changes as they should both be happy with how they've played. Of the two, you'd say Dyche might just be a little more pleased due to the amount of chances his side have created on the road.
Here come the two teams for the second half. As expected, no subs from either manager.
KICKOFF! Burnley get us back underway in the searing summer sunshine.
Quiet start to the second half. Leeds had seven shots to Burnley's four in the first half, but you would say that the Clarets' chances were better.
CHANCE! Bamba does well initially to poke the ball away from Jutkiewicz, but then he tries to dribble out of his own area and Vossen takes it off him. The Belgian's low shot is goalbound but brilliantly blocked by Bellusci.
CHANCE! At the other end, it's a great cross from Berardi and Wood has a shocker by just touching the ball through to Heaton. He should have just stooped a bit and powered a header at goal instead of trying to take a touch.
He's had an impressive debut so far...
BOOKING! Arfield is the first Burnley player in the book for hauling over Cook as the young midfielder looked to start a counter-attack.
CLOSE! Leeds's best chance since Dallas hit the bar in the opening 10 minutes as Mowatt's fizzing drive grazes the outside of the post. Surely we'll get a goal soon!
Here's some action from
Getty Images as Bellusci and Vossen tussle for possession:
© Getty Images
Dallas's deep cross is met by Byram, who does well to nod it back into the danger area and Adeyemi springs to life but can't keep his half-volley down from a tight angle. Half an hour to go at Elland Road and a reminder that there hasn't been a draw in the last 18 meetings between these two.
Speaking of draws, Cardiff have just scored a late equaliser through Craig Noone against Fulham in the midday kickoff. They're into injury time in South Wales.
SHOT! Nice football from Burnley as they work the ball neatly to free Jutkiewicz. The striker tries to catch out Silvestri with a quick shot, but doesn't strike it too well and it's a comfortable save for the Italian.
All over in Cardiff. Here's our
instant report.
CHANCE! It hasn't been Wood's day so far and he's just squandered his best chance of the match by blazing over after running on to Byram's header.
Wood again at the centre of attention as he pulls off his man to meet Byram's cross. He would have got a call from Dallas behind him and should have left it for his fellow newbie.
BURNLEY SUBS: Dyche is the first to blink and shakes up his frontline by taking both Vossen and Jutkiewicz off, replacing them with Sordell and Vokes.
LEEDS SUB: Rosler also makes a change, replacing the buzzy Dallas with Antenucci.
Another injury delay at Elland Road after those substitutions, giving the players a chance to have a breather before the final 15-minute push for a winner.
Antenucci uses his fresh legs to surge forward, but he's a bit too keen to make an impression and shoots carelessly over when there were better options available.
We've struggled to match the intensity of the first half since half time and there's another break in play at the moment.
CLOSE! Bellusci stupidly gifts Burnley a free kick on the left edge of the penalty area. Kightly's deep cross is headed back across goal and you have to credit Leeds for defending that well under their own crossbar.
BOOKING! Kightly had the ball nicked away by Berardi and was annoyed so tugged back the Leeds right-back. Clear yellow.
GOAL! LEEDS 1-0 BURNLEY (ANTENUCCI)
What a goal to break the deadlock! Burnley give Antenucci far too much space and Leeds's top scorer from last season curls home with his weaker left foot from 20 yards. Fabulous finish.
Great reaction both in the dugout and in the crowd as Rosler and Leeds owner Massimo Cellino go bonkers. Can Leeds hold on?
GOAL! LEEDS 1-1 BURNLEY (VOKES)
No, they can't! Burnley hit straight back as Vokes rises high and directs Darikwa's brilliant cross into the corner.
They've lost Kieran Trippier this summer, but that first-time cross from Darikwa was absolutely perfect. Vokes got up well and you have to question Bellusci for not challenging the Welshman enough.
Vokes again with a shot at goal, but this time he doesn't get hold of it and it bobbles harmlessly through to Silvestri.
SUBS: Taylor on, Kightly off for Burnley, while Rosler swaps Mowatt and Cook for Wootton and Doukara.
Five minutes added on at Elland Road.
It's a perfect start to the season for Vokes, who banged in 20 in 2013-14 when Burnley went up but didn't notch a single Premier League goal last year after missing most of the season through injury.
SAVE! Antenucci almost betters his brilliant opener with a curling effort from theother side that Heaton does well to hang on to. Is that the last chance?
FULL-TIME: LEEDS 1-1 BURNLEY
A first draw in 19 meetings between these two sides then, as late goals from two substitutes, Antenucci and Vokes, mean a share of the spoils. A very enjoyable game.
Anyway, we've got to dash off so make sure you click around the site to find loads more action on the first Saturday of the season. Enjoy!