Brenden Aaronson helps Leeds to victory over Wolves on debut

An own goal by defender Rayan Ait-Nouri gave Leeds United a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening Premier League game of the season on Saturday at Elland Road.

Entering their third successive top-flight campaign, Leeds have won their first opening match since their return after striker Patrick Bamford crossed the ball to Brenden Aaronson, who seemed to have finished it off from close range.

However, closer checks showed it was Wolves’ Ait-Nouri who bundled ball over the line in the 74th minute, not the Leeds winger who was making his debut.

Leeds boss Marsch, who took over from Marcelo Bielsa in February, handed league debuts to four new signings, as defender Rasmus Kristensen and midfielders Tyler Adams and Marc Roca also made the lineup.

Despite losing key players Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips in the transfer window, Leeds rose to the occasion and ensured that Marsch has now won his opening league match in five of his last six campaigns.

Relentless Aaronson

"The second goal was in some ways a little against the run of play but we were gathering momentum. I was really pleased that the guys who came off the bench made a big difference," Marsch told the BBC.

"I think all the debutants did quite well. The speed of play... was at a very high level, both teams trying to impose themselves on the way they wanted to play.

“(Aaronson) is relentless. He is none stop. His work rate is incredible I know him well and the thing I know about him is he is only going to get better,” he added of the United States international.

Wolves forwards out

Wolves, who were without their two forwards Raúl Jiménez and Adama Traoré due to injury, took an early lead through Daniel Podence in the sixth minute when his shot took a bounce and found its way into the net over Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

The hosts equalised in the 24th minute after Rodrigo Moreno, who scored five goals in their five pre-season friendlies, received the ball inside the box and tapped it in low inside the near post under the diving goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Both teams had good chances to make it 2-1 just before halftime.

However, Leeds strikers Rodrigo and Bamford were both a fraction of a second late to reach Jack Harrison's sublime cross into the area, while Leander Dendoncker wasted Hwang Hee-chan's spectacular back-heel pass as his low slot was saved by Meslier.

In the 68th minute, Wolves’ Ait-Nouri was approaching another good chance but was brilliantly stopped by Kristensen who prevented a one-on-one scoring situation in the home side’s area.

"I am happy with the performance and disappointed with the result," said Wolves manager Bruno Lage, whose side last won a Premier League match back in April.

"We came here to play with good confidence because the pre-season was good. We scored but then conceded a strange goal."

Leeds will travel to Southampton next Saturday while Wolves host Fulham.