Manchester United Set to Battle Leeds United in High-Stakes Friendly Showdown
Long-standing adversaries Manchester United and Leeds United commence their preseason preparations by facing each other in a friendly match in Sweden this Saturday afternoon.
This marks the opening fixture of five planned preseason encounters for Man Utd, who will subsequently travel to Stockholm before heading to the United States to meet three additional Premier League clubs—West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton. For the moment, though, Ruben Amorim needs to concentrate his squad's focus on their initial summer challenge.
The Red Devils suffered through a catastrophic 2024–25 season culminating in Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Rapid improvements are essential at the start of the new campaign or Man Utd risks sliding deeper into turmoil.
In stark contrast, Leeds experienced a tremendously triumphant 2024–25 season as they claimed the Championship crown and earned their Premier League comeback. Daniel Farke's team will face rigorous preseason testing as they follow their encounter with Man Utd by meeting Villarreal and AC Milan in early August, with the Whites eager to establish positive momentum before the new season begins.
Here's your comprehensive guide to Saturday's friendly in Scandinavia.
What Time Does Man Utd vs. Leeds Kick-Off?
Man Utd vs. Leeds Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Man Utd | Leeds |
|---|---|
Hong Kong 1–3 Man Utd - 30/5/25 | Plymouth 1–2 Leeds - 3/5/25 |
ASEAN All Stars 1–0 Man Utd - 28/5/25 | Leeds 4–0 Bristol City - 28/4/25 |
Man Utd 2–0 Aston Villa - 25/5/25 | Leeds 6–0 Stoke - 21/4/25 |
Tottenham 1–0 Man Utd - 21/5/25 | Oxford United 0–1 Leeds - 18/4/25 |
Chelsea 1–0 Man Utd - 16/5/25 | Leeds 2–1 Preston - 12/4/25 |
How to Watch Man Utd vs. Leeds on TV
Country | Channel |
|---|---|
United Kingdom & International | MUTV, LUTV |
Man Utd Team News
André Onana will be unavailable for Man Utd's preseason schedule following a recent hamstring injury sustained during training. He faces a potential two-month absence, making it highly likely he'll miss the Premier League season opener.
Lisandro Martínez remains sidelined while recovering from an ACL injury, and Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans all departed at the end of June when their contracts concluded—though the latter now serves as the club's head of loans and pathways.
Five Man Utd players who have allegedly requested transfers will be excluded from the squad, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all ostracized.
Man Utd fans are set to witness two unofficial debuts on Saturday, with £62.5 million ($83.9 million) Brazilian Matheus Cunha generating the most excitement. He's expected to play a substantial role against Leeds, while Diego León might also receive playing time following his transfer from Cerro Porteño.
Several academy talents should also receive opportunities. Chido Obi, Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher are among those who might appear.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Leeds
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Leeds (3-4-2-1): Bayındır; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven; Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Cunha; Højlund.
Leeds Team News
Farke is anticipated to debut his four senior acquisitions as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha all gear up for their maiden appearances since joining the club.
Dan James recently signed a contract extension with Leeds and will aim to mark the occasion with victory against his previous club. Sam Byram has also prolonged his tenure with the Whites and should participate against Man Utd.
Leeds have recently acquired Jayden Lienou and Louis Enahoro-Marcus from Manchester City and Liverpool respectively for their youth setup, with both potentially receiving minutes during preseason.
Leeds Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd
Leeds Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Aaronson, James; Piroe.
Man Utd vs. Leeds Score Prediction
It's challenging to forecast precisely what we'll witness from Man Utd and Leeds considering their extended break from competition and the incorporation of new signings and tactical concepts. Preseason provides the ideal chance to experiment, which frequently results in fragmented performances.
Despite their terrible 2024–25 campaign, Man Utd will still be favored to defeat their rivals in Sweden, possessing significantly more individual quality than the Whites. Nevertheless, what matters more for the club's supporters is an inspiring display that provides optimism for the future.
Prediction: Man Utd 2–1 Leeds