Thursday, July 17

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Sports Mole previews Saturday's friendly between Manchester United and Leeds United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester United will begin their preparations for the 2025-26 Premier League campaign with a pre-season friendly against English rivals Leeds United at the the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday.

The Red Devils are due to play five friendlies this summer ahead of the new season, while Leeds have three confirmed pre-season fixtures in the diary ahead of their return to the top flight of English football.

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Match preview

Man United had a disastrous 2024-25 Premier League season, finishing down in 15th spot in the division on 42 points - their lowest position since 1990 and their fewest points in a top-flight campaign since being relegated in 1974.

The Red Devils could not save their season in the Europa League final, losing to Tottenham Hotspur, so there will be no European football at Old Trafford this term, and there is huge pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim to deliver a vast improvement on what was the worst campaign in the club's modern history.

Only two signings have been made this summer, with Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon arriving; more are expected in the coming weeks, while the club are also hoping to move a number of unwanted players on, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia.

Man United will open their pre-season against Leeds before heading to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series, where they will take on West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton.

Amorim's side will then round off their pre-season against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9, eight days before welcoming Arsenal on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

Leeds, meanwhile, are back in the Premier League after two seasons in the Championship, and the Whites were outstanding last term, finishing at the top of the second tier of English football.

Daniel Farke's side claimed 100 points last term, finishing ahead of second-placed Burnley on goal difference, and they will now be bidding to consolidate in the Premier League.

Leeds have signed four new players this summer, with Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha arriving to boost the squad, while Jack Harrison is also back after time on loan at Everton.

The Whites only have three confirmed pre-season friendlies, facing Villarreal and AC Milan in August before the start of their 2025-26 Premier League campaign against Everton on August 18.

However, Farke's side will travel to Germany after the game with Man United, and they will play two friendlies as part of the camp, with both games due to be played without spectators due to security issues.

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Team News

Man United are expected to hand a debut to Cunha following his arrival from Wolves, with the Brazil international set to feature in one of the two number 10 positions in the side.

Meanwhile, there should also be a first Red Devils appearance for Leon, with the 18-year-old also a new arrival at Old Trafford, having made the move from Cerro Porteno.

Head coach Amorim could name different XIs for each half, but a strong side is expected to start, with Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo all likely to feature.

Lisandro Martinez remains on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Andre Onana has been ruled out of the team's preparations for the new campaign due to a hamstring issue.

As for Leeds, all four of their new signings are expected to be involved, with Bijol and Gudmundsson potentially coming straight into the starting side for the pre-season friendly in Sweden.

Daniel James, formerly of Man United, is in line to feature against the Red Devils, while Nmecha is expected to be involved at some stage following his arrival from Wolfsburg.

Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev could line up in central midfield for the Whites, while Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe are also expected to be starters for the newly-promoted club.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha, Hojlund, Amad

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Bijol, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Gruev, Tanaka; Gnonto, Aaronson, James; Piroe

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We say: Manchester United 2-1 Leeds United

 

It is always difficult to know what to expect from pre-season friendlies between two Premier League clubs, but this is likely to be a tight match in terms of the scoreline, with Man United potentially just coming out on top in Sweden.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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