Manchester United will play their penultimate friendly of the summer in Oslo on Tuesday night, with Norwegian outfit Kristiansund waiting to face the 20-time English champions.
United have won all four of their pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, overcoming Perth Glory, Leeds United, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur during a successful summer on the field.
Kristiansund
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Kristiansund will face easily the most high-profile match in their 15-year history on Tuesday as they prepare to take on United in Oslo. The Owls were only formed in 2003 when two rival clubs - Kristiansund FK and Clausenengen FK - came together to establish a new team, which currently competes in the Eliteserien.
The team were promoted to the top level of Norwegian football in 2016, and have finished seventh and fifth in their two campaigns in the top flight. The 2019 season is actually currently in progress, and a total of 21 points from 14 matches has left Christian Michelsen's side in seventh spot in the table.
Kristiansund have not played since July 5, when they recorded a 5-2 win over Lillestrom. They will return to league action against Valerenga on August 4, but there is no downplaying the importance of this particular match due to what it will mean to the club as a whole.
It will be a special occasion for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the 46-year-old was actually born in Kristiansund. Indeed, the former striker turned out for Clausenengen during the early stages of his career, which as mentioned above, was one of the clubs that came together to form Kristiansund.
According to the Manchester Evening News, this particular friendly came about when Kristiansund managing director Kjetil Thorsen sent a text message to Solskjaer earlier this year asking whether it would be possible for the two teams to meet this summer, which was ultimately accepted.
Thorsen and Solskjaer played alongside each other for Clausenengen, which certainly adds another layer when it comes to this contest. In the grand scheme of things, it is just another game for United as they prepare for the 2019-20 campaign, but it will take on added importance for the Red Devils head coach.
What's more, Kristiansund head coach Michelsen has revealed that Solskjaer's son, Noah Solskjaer, is in his thinking for Tuesday's clash. The 19-year-old is yet to feature for the first team but could be included in the squad for the encounter at the Ullevaal Stadion.
The Owls are just three points off the top five in their domestic league and have an important game against Valerenga on the horizon. It will be difficult for the team to think too much about that match, though, as they prepare to lock horns with one of the biggest sides in world football.
Recent form: DWLLLW
Manchester United
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United made it four wins out of four when they recorded a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Thursday. Lucas Moura cancelled out a first-half effort from Anthony Martial, but 18-year-old Angel Gomes came up with a late winner for the Red Devils, who have had a strong summer on the field.
The team's preparations for the 2019-20 campaign started with a 2-0 success over Perth Glory on July 13, before beating Leeds and Inter ahead of their clash with Mauricio Pochettino's side. It is difficult to read too much into pre-season results, but the performances have also been impressive.
Mason Greenwood chipped in with two goals during the tour, while as mentioned, Gomes contributed against Spurs. Tahith Chong and James Garner also had their moments, with the latter netting against Perth Glory. New signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James have also impressed for Solskjaer's side this summer.
There has been a shift towards a 4-2-3-1 formation during pre-season, with Martial and Marcus Rashford both playing through the middle at separate times. Romelu Lukaku has not turned out for the club this summer, though, as the speculation surrounding his future continues to gather pace.
Paul Pogba, like Lukaku, has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford, but the France international has been heavily involved in the team's preparations. The 2018 World Cup winner has looked impressive in a midfield two and could well be handed a new role if he stays at the Theatre of Dreams.
Leicester City's Harry Maguire continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford, while another striker will surely be needed if Lukaku moves on. Talk of a switch for Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Fernandes has gone a touch cold, though, with a recent report claiming that the Portuguese press were driving the rumours.
The Red Devils are almost there in terms of pre-season fixtures. Indeed, the International Champions Cup clash with AC Milan next weekend will be their final friendly before opening their 2019-20 Premier League campaign at home to Chelsea on August 11. There is simply no downplaying the importance of that match as both teams will be desperate to make strong starts to the season.
The mood in the camp is certainly more positive than it was under Jose Mourinho 12 months ago, but it is absolutely vital that the Red Devils improve on what was a disappointing 2018-19 season.
Recent form: DLWWWW
Team News
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Kristiansund are likely to have a former Arsenal goalkeeper between their sticks in the shape of Sean McDermott, who is the Norwegian club's number one. The 26-year-old spent three years in the Arsenal youth system, but he did not actually make the first team.
French defender Christophe Psyche, who is the team's joint-leading scorer in the league this season with three, is expected to make the starting XI, as are Senegalese pair Aliou Coly and Amidou Diop.
A three-pronged attack could include Bendik Bye and Flamur Kastrati, while as mentioned above, Noah Solskjaer could feature against his father's team.
As for United, Eric Bailly is unavailable after picking up a knee injury against Tottenham on Thursday. Victor Lindelof should start at the back with Chris Smalling potentially given the nod for the other centre-back spot.
Fred could join Pogba in the middle of the park with the Brazilian playing his first pre-season minutes against Tottenham last time out, although Scott McTominay has formed a strong partnership with the World Cup winner.
Further forward, Lukaku's expected absence means that Rashford should start through the middle as Martial was given the nod against Spurs. James and Greenwood could also both keep their spots, with Juan Mata potentially replacing Andreas Pereira in the number 10 role.
Jesse Lingard is another option for the position behind Rashford, but the England international has been outperformed by a number of his teammates during pre-season.
Kristiansund possible starting lineup:
McDermott; Aasbak, Psyche, D Ulvestad, Coly; Kalludra, Diop, P Ulvestad; Gjertsen, Kastrati, Bye
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Pogba, Fred; James, Mata, Greenwood; Rashford
Head To Head
Tuesday's match will be the first ever meeting between the two teams.
United last faced Norwegian opposition in the shape of Valerenga back in 2017, where goals from Marouane Fellaini, Lukaku and McTominay saw the English giants record a 3-0 win.
We say: Kristiansund 0-2 Manchester United
United have been in impressive form during pre-season, scoring nine times in their four matches and conceding just once. Kristiansund are in the middle of their league campaign, but we fancy the Red Devils to put another victory on the board.
Matt Law
