Credit: Hasan Karim

Pranav Shahaney

Sat 19 July 2025 13:23, UK

Leeds United take on Manchester United in a pre-season friendly on 19 July at the Friends Arena in Sweden.

The game was scheduled to kick off at 2pm BST, but that is now not likely to be the start time.

It’s understood that the game will be starting 10 minutes later, with the two arch rivals set to take centre stage.

Graham Smyth reveals kick-off delay due to traffic

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth explained that the game will be kicking off later due to traffic delays.

Usually, teams like to be inside the stadium a good hour before the game and they even step onto the pitch to train on the pitch.

In pre-season games, they even greet the travelling and local fans and it’s a more informal setting as compared to the normal in-campaign matches.

Daniel Farke has already named his Leeds playing eleven for the game and he’ll want to see how his new signings are gelling with the other players.

However, as things stand, the game is set to begin at 2:10 pm.

Leeds will be looking for a win against Manchester United

Even though the game is titled “friendly”, there is nothing friendly between the two sides.

The first sliding tackle is certainly going to be cheered on by both fans and it could quickly boil into a competitive fixture.

Farke would want his Leeds players to know just what it means to take on their Manchester rivals, with the two sides set to take on each other at least twice in the upcoming season.

The Elland Road outfit would want to create an early chance or two to put pressure on Manchester United.

Ruben Amorim’s side have struggled in the transfer window and there is anxiety among the fanbase after their 15th-place finish last season.

The Whites should capitalise on these nerves and a win of any kind would be something worth celebrating.

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