‘What a baller’ – Leeds star Lukas Nmecha blown away by midfielder’s display
Lukas Nmecha watched on as his midfielder brother Felix took centre stage for Borussia Dortmund against Juventus in the Champions League.
Leeds‘ hopes of making a first Champions League appearance since their run to the semi-finals in 2001 one are still a pipe-dream for the time being, but Daniel Farke still has top-level experience in his squad.
Ethan Ampadu, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Wilfried Gnonto all made fleeting Champions League appearances before their moves to Elland Road, and six of their summer signings have also followed suit.
Nmecha has made a strong start to his Leeds career and netted the only to beat Everton in their Premier League opener, and only an injury in the international break has prevented the ex-Wolfsburg striker from keeping his place ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Felix Nmecha leaves Leeds man ‘too proud’ after Juventus heroics
Both Lukas Nmecha and his brother Felix were team-mates at Wolfsburg during the Bundesliga club’s period in the Champions League, but the younger Nmecha brother has hit new heights since moving on.
Although Lukas Nmecha only signed for Daniel Farke’s side in the summer window, Felix left for Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and played a key role in their thrilling 4-4 draw with Juventus in Turin on Tuesday.
Nmecha put Dortmund in front for the second time in a match which saw them pegged back from 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2 up in a second half featuring all eight goals, as Lloyd Kelly equalised in stoppage time for Juve.
After his brother’s well-placed finish from the edge of the box gave Dortmund a 2-1 lead just seconds on from Kenan Yildiz‘s strike at the other end, Lukas Nmecha posted on his Instagram story to celebrate.
Nmecha’s message said: “Too proud of you bro – so bold, so loving, and what a baller”.
Leeds left with goalscoring dilemma after Lukas Nmecha injury
Football Insider Verdict
Drawing matches 4-4 are well down the priority list at Elland Road this season, as Leeds seek to retain their Premier League status by keeping as many clean sheets as possible to win games by fine margins.
Leeds drawing blank in three games since Nmecha’s winner against Everton has exposed their lack of punch in the final third, and Football Insider revealed that Farke will look to sign a new striker in January.
Joel Piroe and Calvert-Lewin’s performances have already come under scrutiny, and Leeds will hope that Nmecha can channel his younger brother’s Champions League goal scoring prowess to give Farke’s side what it needs in attack.