A closer look at Manchester United's four fixtures ahead of the international break

Manchester United have four more games before the September international break, with the Red Devils entering a busy period due to their European involvement.

The 20-time English champions started their Premier League season with back-to-back defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, but they have won their last four against Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester City and Arsenal to rise into fifth spot in the table.

Man United are now preparing to begin their Europa League campaign, with two games to come in the competition before the international break, in addition to two Premier League matches.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the team's next four matches, which come ahead of a Manchester derby with Manchester City at the start of October.

Real Sociedad - H (September 8, Champions League)

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Real Sociedad will head to Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday evening, with the La Liga club bidding to continue their solid start to the 2022-23 campaign.

Imanol Alguacil's side have picked up seven points from their opening four league games, which has left them in ninth in the table, with their only defeat this term coming at home to Barcelona.

Real Sociedad will be expecting to advance through Group E considering their strength and the other two teams in the group, and they certainly have the quality to cause Man United issues on Thursday night.

The Red Devils faced the Basque outfit in the 2020-21 Europa League, recording a 4-0 victory in the away fixture, which took place in Turin due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before playing out a goalless draw in the second leg, with the English club advancing to the round of 16.

Man United also battled Real Sociedad during the 2013-14 Champions League, recording a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford before drawing 0-0 in Spain, with both fixtures occurring in the group stage.

Crystal Palace - A (September 11, Premier League)

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Man United will head to Selhurst Park this weekend off the back of four straight league wins, with their last success coming at home to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The turnaround from the Brentford clash on August 13 has been huge, and the Red Devils will travel to Palace full of confidence despite the quality of Patrick Vieira's side.

The Eagles have picked up six points from their opening six matches of the season, which has left them in 15th spot in the table, and they will enter this game off the back of successive draws with Brentford and Newcastle United.

Palace lost 4-2 at Manchester City at the end of August despite leading 2-0 in the match, but they held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the middle of last month.

Man United lost 1-0 to the Eagles in the corresponding match last term, which proved to be the final match of the Ralf Rangnick era.

Sheriff Tiraspol - A (September 15, Europa League)

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Sheriff navigated their way past Pyunik in the playoff round of this season's Champions League, with the two teams playing out back-to-back goalless draws in the two legs before the Moldovan outfit won on penalties.

The Yellow-Blacks famously beat Real Madrid in last season's competition, so they are certainly capable of pulling off a shock result, and they will be looking to use home advantage in this particular fixture.

Stjepan Tomas's side have been in strong form at the start of this campaign, picking up 14 points from their opening six league matches to sit top of their domestic table.

Sheriff will open their Europa League campaign away to Omonia on Thursday, and their two results against the Cypriot outfit could be crucial.

Man United are likely to be given a tough examination by Palace before this game, so it would not be a surprise to see Ten Hag ring the changes ahead of a clash with Leeds.

Leeds United - H (September 18, Premier League)

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Man United enjoyed their two Premier League meetings with rivals Leeds last season, running out 5-1 winners at Old Trafford and 4-2 at Elland Road.

The Red Devils have not actually lost to the Whites in the Premier League since September 2002, and they will fancy their chances of claiming another three points ahead of the international break.

Leeds have picked up eight points from their first six matches of the season to sit ninth in the table, but they have only collected one point from their last three games, including a 5-2 loss at Brentford last time out.

Jesse Marsch's side have already beaten Chelsea in the league this season and will certainly be fired up to overcome Man United, who could potentially have another three wins on the board by the time that they enter this match.