**Rivalry Renewed: Manchester United Set to Face Leeds United in Stockholm Friendly**
Historic adversaries Manchester United and Leeds United are poised to reignite their fierce rivalry this Saturday in a pre-season fixture hosted at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena, offering both teams a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of the forthcoming campaign. The friendly encounter, scheduled to kick off at 2pm UK time, marks a rare occasion as the two sides meet on neutral territory rather than the familiar confines of Old Trafford or Elland Road.
Manchester United approach this pre-season contest under new management, with the recently appointed Ruben Amorim taking charge and aiming to inject fresh energy into the team. After suffering what many have labelled their most disappointing domestic season in more than 50 years, United’s supporters will be eager to see what early changes the Portuguese coach can bring about ahead of a potentially pivotal season at Old Trafford.
Leeds United, by contrast, will be buoyed by their dramatic return to the Premier League. The Yorkshire outfit narrowly pipped Burnley to the Championship title on goal difference, sparking celebrations among their loyal fanbase. Daniel Farke’s side, now preparing for their top-flight comeback, will be looking to test themselves against well-matched opposition as they build rhythm and assess new arrivals.
Sweden has been a familiar destination for Manchester United’s pre-season tours in recent years, and both clubs can count on significant backing from supporters across Scandinavia. The last time these two historic clubs clashed in the region, United emerged as 2-0 victors in Oslo. That victory, and the ongoing rivalry between the sides, only adds to the intrigue surrounding this year’s meeting in Stockholm.
Despite the fanfare, the match will not be shown on any mainstream television channels in the UK. Instead, Manchester United supporters can catch all the action live by subscribing to MUTV, either via Sky or Virgin, for a monthly fee of £7. Alternatively, fans can opt for digital-only access, with monthly passes available for £7.99 or annual subscriptions for £29.99, enabling them to stream the match directly to their devices. Pre-match coverage is set to commence one hour before kick-off. Leeds followers, meanwhile, are able to tune in through the club’s own streaming platform, LUTV, where a match pass can be purchased for £4.99.
On the personnel front, fans will be curious to see whether Paraguayan prodigy Diego Leon, snapped up by United in the January transfer window, will feature in the contest. However, the Red Devils are set to be without first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is ruled out with a hamstring problem. In addition, Lisandro Martinez continues his recovery from a significant knee injury and is unlikely to make an appearance.
Leeds United are expected to showcase several new signings, as Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Lukas Nmecha could all be in contention for their first run-out in Farke’s squad. Testing these new additions against high-calibre opposition so early in pre-season will offer the Leeds manager valuable insights as he moulds his squad for their Premier League campaign.
Beyond the tactical developments and squad experimentation, Saturday’s match also serves as a celebration of football’s unifying qualities, with both English clubs attracting hundreds of supporters from across Sweden and the wider Scandinavian region. These encounters have historically served to strengthen team bonds and deepen support beyond British shores.
The pre-season fixture is just one of several such matches taking place across Europe as elite clubs look to hone their strategies and assess player fitness. Both Manchester United and Leeds will be hoping to build positive momentum as they look forward to the competitive fixtures that really matter—but for the supporters, seeing their teams on the pitch once again will be entertainment enough.
As the Strawberry Arena prepares to host this celebrated encounter, all eyes—both in Stockholm and back home in the UK—will be glued to the proceedings, with both camps hoping for a confidence-boosting performance to kickstart the new footballing year.