Manchester United kicked off their preseason with a 2-0 victory over Leeds United in Oslo. Mason Mount made his debut for Manchester United, while second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill sealed the win for Erik ten Hag’s side.
France youth international, Emeran, opened the scoring in the 67th minute after receiving a well-placed pass from Isak Hansen-Aaroen. He displayed composure and coolly finished to give Manchester United the lead. Fourteen minutes later, Emeran turned provider, setting up Hugill for a clinical first-time strike, securing the 2-0 victory.
Mount, who recently joined Manchester United from Chelsea for a substantial fee, showed his attacking threat throughout the game. However, Ten Hag made wholesale changes to his team at halftime, resulting in Mount’s substitution. The 24-year-old midfielder impressed during his 45-minute performance, leaving fans excited about his potential impact in the upcoming season.
The defensive duo of Raphael Varane and Rhys Bennett put in a solid display, with Varane captaining the team. Leeds struggled to pose a threat against the United defense. In the early stages of the game, Tunisia midfielder Hannibal Mejbri came close to scoring but was denied by Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson.
Leeds attempted a comeback in the second half, introducing Dan James and Patrick Bamford, but failed to break through Manchester United’s defense. Bamford had a goal disallowed for offside, and 17-year-old Archie Gray’s powerful effort hit the side netting.
Looking ahead, Manchester United will face Lyon on July 19 in Edinburgh as part of their preseason preparations. Their first Premier League game is scheduled for August 14 against Wolves. Leeds will have a 10-day break before facing Monaco on July 22, with their first competitive match against Cardiff City on August 6 following relegation.
