Rosenborg vs Manchester United Match Preview: Carrick Seeks First Pre-Season Win as Red Devils Build Sharpness
Manchester United will play their second pre-season friendly against Norwegian side Rosenborg at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim. Under head coach Michael Carrick, the Red Devils are seeking to build match fitness and claim their first win of the campaign following a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham, while a mid-season Rosenborg provides a rigorous physical test.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
As a club friendly, this fixture does not carry any qualification or league table weight. However, it serves as a crucial milestone in Manchester United's 2026-27 pre-season tour. Opting to remain entirely within Europe this summer to ease the travel burden on a squad impacted by the 2026 World Cup, the Red Devils are focusing on integration and tactics under manager Michael Carrick. For Rosenborg, currently midway through their Eliteserien season, the match is a high-profile home test to gauge their sharpness against elite English opposition.
Recent Form
Rosenborg enter the match in strong form, winning three of their last five matches across all competitions. This includes back-to-back commanding 3-0 victories over IK Start and Kristiansund in the Eliteserien, which helped them pull away from the relegation threat. Manchester United opened their pre-season campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to League One side Wrexham in Helsinki, where Michael Carrick fielded two completely different lineups in each half to build fitness. Prior to the summer break, United finished their domestic campaign strongly, winning three of their last four Premier League matches, including a 3-2 triumph over Liverpool.
Key Players & Injury News
For Rosenborg, key striker Dino Islamovic remains a major doubt after missing their recent league win, while Simen Bolkan Nordli is sidelined through injury. The Norwegian side will rely heavily on their collective team chemistry and physical superiority to challenge the Red Devils. Manchester United will travel without their World Cup stars who are still on extended post-tournament breaks. Forward Benjamin Šeško will miss out again as he continues to recover from a shin problem, and summer signing Karl Darlow is unavailable following a minor medical procedure. New addition Andrey Santos, who made his debut against Wrexham, is expected to feature. Additionally, 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel has been training with the first-team squad and could make a highly anticipated debut.