Manchester United's preparations for the 2024-25 campaign will officially begin on Monday evening, with the club's first friendly of the summer coming against Norwegian outfit Rosenborg.
The Red Devils are building towards their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16, while Rosenborg are 14 matches into their current Eliteserien season, with the team sitting eighth in the table.
Match preview
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Seven weeks have passed since Man United ended their 2023-24 campaign with a famous 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The result and indeed the performance played a major role in Erik ten Hag keeping his job as head coach, and it also saw the Red Devils qualify for the group stage of the 2024-25 Europa League, so there will be European football at Old Trafford next season despite the team finishing down in eighth in the Premier League.
Man United have entered a new era under the leadership of INEOS, and the future certainly looks bright, with the club set to have a busy transfer window; Joshua Zirkzee's arrival was officially announced on Sunday, although he will not be involved in this contest.
The Red Devils returned to pre-season training on July 6, and they will take part in five friendlies this summer, tacking Rangers after this contest, before heading to the United States for matches against Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool.
The 20-time English champions will then take on Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 10, before opening their 2024-25 Premier League campaign against Fulham on August 16.
There will certainly be pressure on Ten Hag to improve on last season, with the Dutchman recently signing a 12-month extension, and Man United will be bidding to open their pre-season preparations with a positive performance in Trondheim on Monday night.
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Rosenborg, as mentioned, are 14 matches into their Eliteserien campaign, with a total of 17 points leaving them in eighth position in the table.
Alfred Johansson's side will enter the contest off the back of a 4-1 defeat to Sarpsborg 08 on Friday, and they have lost two of their last three matches during a difficult run of form.
Rosenborg are 26-time Norwegian champions, making them comfortably the most successful outfit in their own country, with their last triumph coming in 2018, but they were ninth last term and currently sit a disappointing eighth after 14 games of the current campaign.
The hosts will be back in league action against Lillestrom on July 21, and that contest is certainly more important than this one, but the emotion involved makes this a gigantic game for the club.
Rosenborg have never faced Man United in a competitive fixture, but the two teams have locked horns in two friendlies in the past, including in 1992, when the Red Devils recorded a 3-2 victory.
Paul Ince, Brian McClair and Denis Irwin registered in that encounter, while Man United beat Rosenborg 8-0 in a friendly when the two teams locked horns back in 1977.
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Team News
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Man United will be missing all of the players who have been involved in Euro 2024, with Altay Bayindir, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw unavailable for selection.
Argentina duo Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho are also absent due to their participation in the Copa America, while Jadon Sancho will not be involved despite returning to first-team training on Friday, with his relationship with head coach Ten Hag allegedly being repaired.
Marcus Rashford is set to be involved from the first whistle, having been left out of the England squad for Euro 2024, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans, Casemiro, Mason Mount are also in the squad.
Tyrell Malacia is only in individual training, as he bids to recover from a serious knee injury, so the Dutchman will again miss out, while Mason Greenwood is on the verge of departing Old Trafford on a permanent basis.
Harry Maguire is also not yet fit, while Andre Onana, Victor Lindelof, Amad Diallo and Antony have remained in Manchester.
A number of youngsters will also be given the chance to impress, with Habeeb Ogunneye, Harry Amass and Toby Collyer set to be involved, in addition to Ethan Wheatley.
As for Rosenborg, Jonathan Augustinsson is out of the contest due to a thigh problem, but the Danish outfit are otherwise in strong shape in terms of their first-team squad.
Head coach Johansson will make full use of his squad in this contest, but a strong XI is expected to take to the field for the first whistle, including Ole Saeter, who has scored eight times this season.
Marius Broholm has also been in strong form during the current campaign, netting five times in 15 appearances, and the 19-year-old is set to be among the starters against the 20-time English champions.
Rosenborg possible starting lineup:
Tangvik; Comic, Ceide, Jenssen, Reitan; Vaananen, Selnaes, Nypan; Broholm, Saeter, Reitan-Sunde
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Vitek; Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Bennett, Amass; Casemiro, Hannibal, Collyer; Mount, Wheatley, Rashford
We say: Rosenborg 1-2 Manchester United
Rosenborg will provide competitive opposition for Man United on Monday, which is exactly what Ten Hag will want in the team's pre-season opener. It is always difficult to pick scores for these fixtures, but we believe that Man United's superior quality will allow them to secure a narrow win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
