One of these clashes is against French side Lens, scheduled to take place at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils will also face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday before their Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In contrast, this match will be Lens’s final fixture of the summer as they begin their Ligue 1 season against Brest on August 13.
The pre-season campaign has been a mix of results for Manchester United. They kicked off with three wins against Leeds United, Lyon, and Arsenal. However, they faced defeat in their subsequent matches against Wrexham, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund. It’s worth noting that the loss to Wrexham involved an academy side, so the first team technically lost only twice this summer. Nevertheless, the recent defeats against Real Madrid and Dortmund have raised concerns for the club as they head into the new season.
Manchester United has been busy in the transfer market, making two notable signings this summer. Mason Mount joined from Chelsea, and Andre Onana arrived from Inter Milan. The club is also on the verge of securing a deal for Rasmus Hojlund from Denmark. With these additions, the team aims to strengthen its squad and compete for the top position in the Premier League.
Read also: Man City vs. Arsenal: FA Community Shield Showdown – Date And Kickoff Time.
Lens had a successful 2022-23 season, finishing second in Ligue 1, just one point behind champions Paris Saint-Germain. This achievement qualified them for the 2023-24 Champions League group stage. Although Lens has only won Ligue 1 once, in 1998, last season’s second-place finish was their best since 2002.
Despite a strong campaign, Lens had to cope with the departure of key players this summer. Lois Openda, who netted 21 goals last season, moved to RB Leipzig in a big-money transfer. Midfielder Seko Fofana also left for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. In response, Lens bolstered their squad with the arrivals of Andy Diouf, Angelo Fulgini, and Oscar Cortes.
For the upcoming clash against Lens, Manchester United’s coach Erik ten Hag, is expected to field a strong XI. New signings Onana and Mount are set to make their home debuts for the club. The team’s lineup could closely resemble the one for their Premier League opener against Wolves. However, the club faces some injury concerns, with players like Dean Henderson, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo ruled out. Additionally, Anthony Martial, Alejandro Garnacho, and Raphael Varane are doubtful for the match.
Lens is expected to showcase their new signings, with Diouf, Fulgini, and Cortes among those likely to start. Wesley Said is expected to lead the line for the Ligue 1 outfit, supported by Adrien Thomasson and Przemyslaw Frankowski in attacking positions.
The Manchester United vs. Lens match is scheduled for Saturday at 12:45 PM Nigerian time.
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