Will United run into trouble in Norway again? Prediction for Rosenborg vs Manchester United – 24.07.2026
On Friday, July 24, 2026, the Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim will host a friendly showdown between Rosenborg and Manchester United. The match kicks off at 18:00 local time. For the Norwegians, it’s a golden opportunity to test themselves against a top-tier opponent right in the heart of their domestic league campaign, while Michael Carrick’s side will only be playing their second pre-season fixture as they gear up for the new season.
- Also read: De Zerbi faces his first test and the risk of an upset: prediction for Tottenham vs MK Dons.
Rosenborg are hitting their stride and enjoying a full competitive rhythm
Rosenborg’s league position so far is nothing to write home about. After 13 matches, the Norwegian side sits tenth in the Eliteserien, amassing 15 points with a goal difference of 15:18. However, heading into this clash with the English giants, the hosts’ recent form has improved noticeably.
First, Rosenborg edged out Molde 2-1 in a friendly, then followed it up with two emphatic league victories. They hammered Kristiansund 3-0 at home, then repeated the scoreline away to Start. That’s three wins on the bounce with an aggregate score of 8:1, and they’ve kept clean sheets in their last two outings.
Against Start, Amin Shiakha bagged a brace, while Simen Bolkan Nordli added another. The closing stages were particularly telling: Rosenborg kept piling on the pressure and scored twice deep into added time. Physically, the hosts should appear much sharper and more dynamic than their opponents, who are just starting their full pre-season training.
Another major advantage for the Norwegians is squad stability. Their core players are getting regular game time in the league, and the connections between the lines are well established. While Rosenborg can afford some rotation in this friendly, expect them to field a near full-strength lineup from the start.
Manchester United just starting their prep and set to keep experimenting
It was a rocky start to the summer for Manchester United, as Carrick’s men fell 0-1 to Wrexham in their pre-season opener, failing to find the net. The manager used two different lineups and made wholesale changes at half-time, so it’s far too early to talk about any real cohesion in the United ranks.
The first half against Wrexham saw Tom Heaton, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Aidan Heaven, Luke Shaw, Andrey Santos, Jack Fletcher, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount, Patrick Dorgu, and Joshua Zirkzee all get minutes. Despite a handful of first-team regulars, United struggled to create chances and break down a well-organized opponent.
Carrick will likely split game time between two squads again. Young academy talents could get a look-in, including 15-year-old Jay-Jay Gabriel. Notably absent are Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Karl Darlow, meaning United’s attacking combinations will likely remain experimental.
For United, the main focus right now isn’t the scoreline but building up fitness levels. They’ll try to control possession and dictate the tempo, but maintaining high intensity for the full 90 minutes looks unlikely. Frequent substitutions could also disrupt the rhythm and fluidity of their play.
Probable lineups
- Rosenborg: Valstedt — Svensson, Mikkel Seide, Nemcik, Pereira — Bomholt, Selnes, Fossum — Duris, Shiakha, Emil Seide.
- Manchester United: Heaton — Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw — Andrey Santos, Jack Fletcher — Mbeumo, Mount, Dorgu — Zirkzee.
It’s especially tough to predict the visitors’ starting XI due to the planned rotation. Even those who start are unlikely to play more than a half in most cases.
Match facts
- Rosenborg have won their last three matches by a combined score of 8:1.
- The Norwegian side have kept clean sheets in their last two official games.
- Manchester United lost 0-1 to Wrexham in their first pre-season friendly of the summer.
- Back in July 2024, these teams met at Lerkendal, where Rosenborg snatched a 1-0 win thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Noah Holm.
United’s rotation could keep the tempo low – Rosenborg vs Manchester United prediction
The United name alone often sways the market toward an expectation of high-scoring football, but the current state of both squads tells a different story. United are at the very start of their pre-season, failed to score in their first friendly, and are set to use a large cast of players again. Constant changes could hamper the quality of their attacking play and disrupt chemistry in the final third.
Rosenborg are in better match shape, but there’s no need for them to turn this into a shootout. The hosts beat United 1-0 two years ago and could once again rely on compact defending, discipline, and rapid transitions after turnovers.
Likely scorelines: 1-0, 1-1, or 0-1.
Prediction: under 2.5 goals.
