Manchester United and Leeds United meet on Saturday 19 July in a pre-season friendly at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. This match gives both clubs an early chance to test themselves after very different 2024–25 campaigns.
United are looking to move past what was one of their most disappointing Premier League seasons in decades. They finished 15th with 42 points and won only 11 league matches. Underlying numbers suggest they were slightly better than their position, with xPTS putting them 12th, but they still underperformed at both ends. United scored 44 goals from 52.6 xG, underachieving significantly in front of goal, while conceding 54 from 53.8 xGA. Manager Ruben Amorim will be eager to see progress quickly, particularly in attack where confidence was low.
Leeds, in contrast, stormed to the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League. They topped the table with 100 points and finished first on xPTS too, showing their dominance was deserved. Their attacking numbers were excellent, with 89.1 xG and 95 actual goals, while defensively they allowed just 29.6 xGA, the best in the division. That blend of creativity and control should make them a good test for United.
Both teams have much to prove for the season ahead, and this fixture is likely to showcase plenty of attacking intent as players fight to impress their managers.
How the bookies view it: Utd are favourites
Manchester United are priced at 11/13 to win this friendly, making them clear favourites, while Leeds are 16/5 outsiders and the draw is available at 31/10. The goals markets reflect expectations of an open, attacking game, with over 2.5 goals offered at 8/15 and both teams to score at 18/35.
Head to Head: Man Utd in control
Manchester United and Leeds United have met twenty-nine times since 1995, with United winning eighteen, Leeds winning four, and seven matches ending in draws. United have dominated the recent meetings, going unbeaten in the last eight with six wins and two draws, scoring twenty-four goals to Leeds’ seven in that stretch. On average, their games produce just over three goals per match, and seven of the last eight have seen over 1.5 goals, with five going over 2.5. In friendlies, United have also had the upper hand, winning four of the last five against Leeds. Historically this rivalry has been one-sided, with Manchester United consistently getting the better of Leeds, and the matches are often open and high scoring.
Players to watch: Classy Cunha to make mark
Matheus Cunha is a strong bet to record multiple shots and at least one shot on target given his output last season. In 2,597 minutes he took 110 shots, averaging 3.81 per 90 minutes, which placed him among the most active forwards in the league. He also hit the target with 44 of those attempts and managed at least one shot on target in 23 of his 29 starts. This shows both volume and consistency, as he rarely goes missing in games. Cunha’s tendency to drop deep and carry the ball also creates his own shooting opportunities, while his role as a central attacker ensures he is regularly on the end of chances. His blend of aggression and accuracy makes him reliable for these markets.
Predicted line-ups
Manchester United (likely 3-4-3): Bayindir; Maguire DeLigt Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha, Obi, Amad
Leeds United (4‑2‑3‑1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Tanaka; Anderson, James, Gnoto; Piroe
Anything else catch the eye?
Over 2.5 goals looks a strong play in this game given how these sides have approached recent matches. Manchester United’s last five friendlies have all featured at least three goals, including a 3–1 win over Wrexham and a 4–2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund last summer. With no league points at stake and squads rotating, their friendlies tend to be open and loose defensively.
Leeds also offer good support for goals. In their last nine pre-season games, seven cleared the 2.5 line, with score lines like 4–2, 3–1 and 2–2 common as they emphasise fitness and fluid attacking play over structure. Their squad scored 95 goals in the Championship and averaged over two goals per game, while even in tougher matches they rarely shut up shop.
Both managers are also likely to experiment, giving younger and fringe players minutes, which can lead to defensive lapses and higher‑tempo games. With United eager to improve their attacking sharpness and Leeds carrying momentum from their prolific promotion season, this looks like a good opportunity for another high‑scoring pre‑season affair.
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