(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Fri 1 May 2026 20:46, UK

Leeds United star Anton Stach scored a stunning goal in the first half against Burnley, and Stuart Dallas would have never seen it coming.

The German midfielder was recently out for a short period of time after picking up an ankle injury in the FA Cup win over West Ham last month, but has since returned to the squad.

He was named in the starting lineup for the Whites’ clash against Burnley this Friday, and many were excited to see his full return to action.

It didn’t take him long to leave his mark at Elland Road, scoring a beautiful low-driven effort from range in the eighth minute, which had an unbelievably low xG rate of 0.02.

Stach has been magical all campaign for Leeds, and there is a reason why he may win the Player of the Season award, but Dallas had an odd take on the 27-year-old.

Stuart Dallas said Anton Stach wouldn’t offer Leeds ‘magic’ vs Burnley

Leeds lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, and the Whites only looked a threat when Stach came off the bench in the second 45.

It hasn’t taken the former Hoffenheim star to get back up to speed, as his first-half performance against Burnley spoke volumes.

The goal was Stach’s fifth of the Premier League campaign and his market value is most likely increasing by the week.

While speaking on Sky Sports just before kick-off, the former Leeds fan favourite was full of praise for Stach, but seemed to miss crediting the midfielder for the one thing that he’s best at: bringing magic to LS11.

Dallas said: “It will be interesting to see how much he plays. He brings a lot, obviously, his set-pieces, we know how good he is at that.

“He’s not really that creative midfielder, he’s not going to go and have that bit of magic, but he’s very composed and a good runner with the ball.”

Dallas did go on to say how some of the Leeds players he’s spoken to have nothing but great things about Stach to say.

Maybe being out of the game for a few years has affected Dallas’ ball knowledge, because this take was shocking, but we can forgive him for it.

Does anybody know what Stach’s preferred foot is?

Another wonderful thing about Stach is his ability to create moments with either of his feet.

His goal from range against the Clarets was with his left foot, and it says a lot about his confidence for him to be taken a shot on from that distance at that stage of the game, with his weaker foot.

But is his left peg his weak foot? Who knows, because it doesn’t seem like it.

Stach creates almost 2.50 chances per 90 minutes, which once again raises the question of what games Dallas has been watching.

Either way, Leeds themselves know how lucky they are to have Stach on their books, as the Whites close in on Premier League safety.

What did Dallas say after Stach’s goal?

Dallas was quick to give Stach praise at the break, but failed to apologise for his lack of judgement on the German.

Speaking on Stach’s goal, he said: “We know how capable he is with striking the ball, and we’ve seen it again tonight.”

He could’ve said that before the match started, at least.