Some of Leeds United’s pre-season plans have been confirmed already, with a clash against Manchester United in Stockholm during July taking place.
Leeds’ return to the Premier League comes with a lot of mouth-watering fixtures in the top division, but none whet the appetite more than Manchester United.
For the Red Devils and Leeds, this summer won’t be defined by what happens during pre-season friendlies, but it could go a long way to establishing the mood at the beginning of the new campaign.
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Leeds United to face Europa League final losers Manchester United in Stockholm
Back in March, it was confirmed that Leeds would be jetting out to Stockholm, Sweden to take on Manchester United in the third pre-season friendly since 2019.
(Photo by Pat Scaasi| MB Media/Getty Images)
The Strawberry Arena will play host to an intriguing matchup between two sides sharing a historic rivalry, and Leeds will come into this pre-season full of excitement after securing promotion back to the Premier League.
As for the Red Devils, they can’t wait for the current campaign to end as they look set for a 16th-placed finish barring a shock result against Aston Villa on the final day, while losing the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday, meaning there will be no European football at Old Trafford next term.
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Leeds United have big opportunity to lay down marker with threat to Manchester United
As mentioned above, pre-season friendlies aren’t often a good barometer for how a season is going to pan out – Marcelo Bielsa’s 4-3 loss to League One Oxford United in 2018 a testament to that point.
However, in coming into the Premier League this summer, Leeds are getting a great opportunity to test themselves against a side that look likely to be with them in the bottom half of the table next season.
Should Leeds go into this game looking for a really good performance over just ‘minutes in the tank’ they could lay down a marker to Man United that not only raises confidence at Elland Road about the season ahead, but compounds the gloom across the Pennines.
For Man United, defeat in pre-season to one of the relegation favourites would only serve as more fuel to the panic, and Leeds would gain real cause for optimism as a result.