Manchester United and Leeds United face off in their penultimate preseason friendlies of the summer, with Dublin’s Croke Park playing host.
The Red Devils have enjoyed the sights of Scandinavia this summer and are now travelling across the Irish Sea for a fixture against a longtime rival. There’s no love lost between these two, with the rivalry tracing back to the Wars of the Roses in the 15th-century.
The Lancashire-based United failed to beat the Yorkshiremen last season. Ruben Amorim’s final game at the helm came in a 1–1 draw at Elland Road at the start of the year and then Leeds stunned the Red Devils to claim their first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981, staving off the threat of relegation.
Leeds proved mightily tough to beat during the second half of the season, as Daniel Farke’s switch to a three-back proved inspired. That momentum has continued into the summer, with Leeds winning three consecutive matches against top-flight opponents.
United, meanwhile, have produced a mixed bag of results and were held to a 1–1 draw by a rusty Paris Saint-Germain team last time out.
Man Utd vs. Leeds Prediction
Nothing to Separate Historic Rivals
Leeds have beaten their great historic rivals just three times in the 21st-century, and their most recent triumph emphasized Farke’s impressive coaching job during the second half of last season.
The Whites were in strife at Christmas, yet ended up eight points adrift of the bottom three in 14th. Some are even suggesting Leeds should be pushing for a top-half finish in 2026–27, with their work in the transfer market impressive up to this point.
They performed with assurance in a 2–0 win over RB Leipzig at the weekend and will be keen to score another victory over United in front of a sold-out Croke Park. Victories over the Red Devils are hard to come by, so Leeds won‘t want to squander any opportunity they can get.
They’re performing with clarity and precision, with Farke’s framework continuing to render Leeds a tough team to break down. They’ve kept two clean sheets in preseason, but will be put to the test by a United side that’s continuing to grow, with those who competed at the World Cup getting back up to speed.
Prediction: Man Utd 1–1 Leeds
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Leeds
The last of those who enjoyed post-World Cup breaks have returned for the start of their preseasons, and there’s a chance Marcus Rashford makes his first United appearance in 19 months on Wednesday.
Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona, but has returned to Manchester after Barça opted against signing the England international permanently.
Lisandro Martínez has also reported back after reaching the World Cup final with holders Argentina. He suffered a suspected thigh injury against Spain, but is expected to be fully fit for the start of the new season.
Mason Mount is a fresh concern after picking up a foot injury in the draw with PSG, but Senne Lammens should be available after recovering from an illness. Fellow goalkeeper Tom Heaton is set to miss out with a hamstring complaint.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Leeds (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, Shaw; Tielemans, Santos; Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo.
Leeds Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd
Farke revealed after Leeds’ victory over RB Leipzig that wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson could miss the next three weeks as a result of a hamstring issue. The Swede will thus be absent for the opening weeks of the new season.
Ilia Gruev has been sidelined since April with a knee issue, and goalkeeper Lucas Perri is expected to complete a loan move to Torino after the signing of James Trafford from Manchester City. Trafford could make his unofficial debut for the club in Dublin.
Jaka Bijol is back in action for the Whites, and Noah Okafor could be eased into proceedings after enjoying some time off after the World Cup.
What Time Does Man Utd vs. Leeds Kick Off?
- Location: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Stadium: Croke Park
- Date: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. BST / 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT
How to Watch Man Utd vs. Leeds on TV
| Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United States | CBS Sports Golazo, Paramount+ |
| United Kingdom | MUTV, ITV 1 UK, ITVX, STV Scotland, Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 2, STV Player |
| Mexico | Claro Sports |
READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC
READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC
- What Is Liverpool’s Best Defense After Ronald Araujo Arrival?
- Lionel Messi Contemplates Sudden Retirement in Heartfelt Tribute to Late Father
- Cristiano Ronaldo Lost For Words in First Message After Marrying Georgina Rodriguez
- Mason Mount Injury a Clear Reminder of What Man Utd Must Still Do
- ‘You or Nobody’—The One Real Madrid Signing Jose Mourinho Insisted on This Summer
