Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Manchester United take on Leeds United in pre-season friendly at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm.
Nordic interest on both sides
With today's game taking place in Sweden, there's added focus on the Scandinavian players in both squads — and a few names the local crowd will be especially keen to watch.
For Manchester United, Danish striker Rasmus Højlund is on the bench and could get his first minutes of pre-season. The 22-year-old is already a regular for Denmark and a key part of United’s attack going into the new campaign.
Also involved is Chido Obi-Martin, the 17-year-old forward born in Aarhus, who joined United from Arsenal last summer. He already made his senior debut for the club last season and has built a strong reputation with Denmark’s youth teams thanks to his remarkable goalscoring record. A return to Scandinavia gives him another platform to impress.
Leeds also have Swedish interest on the bench in Gabriel Gudmundsson, the 26-year-old left-back who has represented Sweden at senior level and previously played for IFK Norrköping in the Allsvenskan. Born in Malmö, he is the most local player in either squad today.
Ethan Ampadu, who qualifies for Denmark through his mother, starts in midfield for Leeds, while Jaka Bijol, a 26-year-old Slovenian centre-back, is also in the XI and familiar to Nordic fans from his time in Norway.
15-minute warning
Man United's players looked focused as they were filmed arriving earlier this afternoon.
Not long to wait now. Kick-off is just 15 minutes away.
A fierce rivalry resumes
There's more than just pre-season fitness at stake today.
This is Manchester United vs Leeds United — a fixture steeped in history, hostility, and identity. The tension between these two clubs runs deeper than football, tracing its roots back to the Wars of the Roses between Lancashire and Yorkshire in the 15th century.
While the cities lie over 40 miles apart, the rivalry has been fierce both on and off the pitch. In the 1970s, clashes between fan groups were among the most violent in English football. Thankfully, that era has largely faded — but the edge remains.
Sir Alex Ferguson once called it a 'fantastic, feisty occasion' with an 'electric' atmosphere. Today's meeting in Stockholm is a friendly, but for supporters, this fixture is never just another game.
In terms of proper matches, Man United have won 50 of the previous 113 meetings, with 37 draws and 26 victories for Leeds.
Recent history favours the Red Devils — including a 6–2 win the last time Leeds visited Old Trafford in the Premier League — but today offers a clean slate for both clubs as they prepare for the new campaign.
Kick-off delayed by 10 minutes
Fair to say there's a much larger Manchester United contingent here in Stockholm today.
But plenty of Leeds fans have travelled too, ahead of what promises to be such an exciting season for them.
It's a sell-out here. Kick-off is delayed by 10 minutes due to heavy traffic around the stadium, but I'm sure these fans won't mind.
Who is Diego Leon?
Most Manchester United fans already know what to expect from Matheus Cunha — but what about the club's other debutant today?
Diego Leon, just 18 years old, is a Paraguayan left-back who joined United this summer from Cerro Porteno. He made 31 senior appearances in Paraguay before making the switch and has already been capped by his country at U20 level.
He's been described in South America as 'one of the great promises of Paraguayan football' — and now he’s been handed the No 30 shirt and a place in United's starting XI for today’s friendly.
Sources close to the club say Leon has caught the eye in training since arriving at Carrington, and staff are keen to see how he handles a first-team environment.
Busy summer ahead
Today’s clash in Stockholm is just the first step in pre-season for both sides — and there’s plenty more to come.
Manchester United head to the United States for their next three matches as part of the Premier League Summer Series. They'll face West Ham (July 27), Bournemouth (July 31) and Everton (August 3) before returning to Old Trafford to host Fiorentina on August 9.
Leeds stay closer to home — but have an eye-catching set of friendlies lined up.
They welcome Villarreal to Elland Road on August 2, then travel to Dublin to face AC Milan at the Aviva Stadium on August 9.
The real Premier League then gets underway — and both clubs face tricky starts:
Manchester United:
Arsenal (H) – August 17
Fulham (A) – August 24
Burnley (H) – August 30
Man City (A) – September 13
Leeds United:
Arsenal (A) – August 23
Newcastle (H) – August 30
Fulham (A) – September 13
Wolves (H) – September 20
New-look Leeds
Leeds are back in the Premier League and Daniel Farke has named a line-up that reflects both continuity and fresh investment.
New signings Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol start, while Jack Harrison returns to the XI after two seasons on loan at Everton. Willy Gnonto also gets the nod – and he's clearly fired up for this one.
Speaking to LUTV this week, the Italian forward said: 'I think it is the best game to start with. It is a big rivalry and it is our first friendly game as well... It is Manchester United, so it is never going to be a game like the others.'
New numbers
Manchester United have confirmed shirt numbers for two of their summer signings — and it's a big one for Matheus Cunha.
The £62.5million Brazilian striker has been handed the No 10 shirt, worn in recent years by Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy before him. No pressure.
Teenager Diego Leon, who starts this afternoon after joining from Cerro Porteno, takes No 30.
Leeds starting XI
Daniel Farke's squad features several new signings and a couple of familiar faces returning from loan:
Starting XI: Darlow; Byram, Bijol, Rodon, Bogle; Ampadu, Gruev; Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto; Nmecha.
Substitutes: Meslier, Cooper, Struijk, Longstaff, Bornauw, Gudmundsson, James, Summerville, Joseph, Rutter, Bamford.
Jack Harrison is back in Leeds colours after his Everton spell, while Lukas Nmecha makes his first appearance since arriving from Wolfsburg.
Man United starting XI
Here's how Manchester United line up for their opening pre-season friendly under Ruben Amorim:
Starting XI: Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw; Casemiro, Cunha, Amad, Fernandes (captain), Collyer, Obi, Leon.
Substitutes: Vitek, Maguire, Mainoo, Mount, Hojlund, Forson, Kambwala, Hugill, J. Fletcher, Williams, Emeran.
Plenty of youth in the squad, but also a spine of senior names — including £62.5m debutant Matheus Cunha up front and Bruno Fernandes wearing the armband.
Cunha starts
The teams are in — and one name jumps out.
Matheus Cunha makes his Manchester United debut today following his £62.5million move from Wolves. The Brazilian leads the line as Ruben Amorim kicks off his first full season in charge.
Cunha is joined in the starting XI by Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Luke Shaw and 18-year-old Diego Leon, who also makes his first appearance since joining from Cerro Porteno.
Both sides are expected to make wholesale changes at half-time.
It all starts here
Good afternoon and welcome t Mail Sport's live coverage of Manchester United vs Leeds United, coming to you from the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm.
It's the first pre-season fixture for both sides – and it's a tasty one. Old rivals meeting on neutral turf, with plenty of new faces and fresh narratives to follow.
Kick-off is at 2pm UK time, but we've already got the teams...
Key Updates
Kick-off delayed by 10 minutes
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