Rosenborg v Manchester United: Premier League giants face in‐form Norwegians in Trondheim test

Manchester United’s rebuilding squad will face an unexpectedly sharp early test on Friday when they travel to in‐form Rosenborg for a pre-season friendly in Trondheim.

The match, scheduled for 24 July 2026 at 16:00 GMT, comes as European clubs slowly shift from World Cup mode into full preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. With internationals returning and friendlies multiplying, both Rosenborg and United see this game as a key checkpoint in their summer plans.

Nasser Eddy, analyst on NCI Sport and presenter of the European Champions League on Radio Nostalgie, has delivered his assessment and predictions for the encounter, highlighting contrasting dynamics on each side.

Rosenborg chasing past glory but hitting summer form

Rosenborg, a historic name in Scandinavian and European football, have spent recent seasons searching for echoes of their dominant past. Their last Norwegian league title in the Eliteserien dates back to 2018 – a long drought for a club that has been crowned national champion 26 times.

The current league campaign in Norway has been underwhelming overall, with the “Troillongan” languishing in 10th place. However, recent results suggest a team on the rise: Rosenborg are unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions, winning all of them, including two league victories in their most recent outings.

This friendly against United is a brief interruption, as they return to domestic action just three days later. Yet coach Freyr Alexandersson is expected to treat it as a valuable learning experience against heavyweight European opposition.

Defensively, Rosenborg appear to have found a measure of stability. They have conceded only one goal in their last three games, a striking contrast with their troubled May, when they shipped 10 goals in five matches.

In attack, they have also caught fire. Rosenborg have scored eight goals in three matches since the start of July, with Algerian forward Amin Chiakha in particular enjoying a revival. Chiakha has delivered five goals and one assist in 13 league appearances this season, including a brace last Saturday against Start. It is momentum the Norwegians hope to carry into the meeting with United.

Manchester United in “renaissance” ahead of Champions League return

On the other side, Manchester United arrive in Norway as a club in what is being described as a renaissance after several turbulent seasons. Having finished third in the Premier League last term, the “Red Devils” are preparing for their return to the Champions League in a few weeks’ time.

With more than a month left in the transfer window, United’s squad is still being reshaped. The arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, along with Marcus Rashford’s return from his loan spell at Barcelona, are already confirmed. The club’s hierarchy is now focusing on further high-profile targets, including France internationals Aurelien Tchouameni and Warren Zaire-Emery.

While those potential deals progress off the pitch, manager Michael Carrick – now firmly established in the role – is continuing the rebuild on the training ground. Friday’s game will be United’s second friendly of pre-season, following a surprise 1-0 defeat by modest Welsh club Wrexham last Saturday.

Carrick is still without several World Cup internationals, who remain on holiday. His immediate priority is tightening a defence that conceded 50 league goals last season – almost double the tally of champions Arsenal.

He will, however, be able to draw on an experienced core, including Harry Maguire and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as a crop of exciting academy graduates. Among them, the standout attraction is teenage forward JJ Gabriel.

JJ Gabriel poised for first-team dream debut

At just 15, with a boyish face and still not a professional, JJ Gabriel is carrying huge expectations at Manchester United. The English prodigy has been promoted by Michael Carrick to the first team for the trip to Norway, after training with the senior squad on Monday ahead of the flight to Trondheim.

Gabriel enjoyed an excellent campaign with United’s Under-18 side last season and is expected to make his senior debut in Trondheim – a milestone the club believes comes at the right time in his development. His progress will be closely watched as part of United’s broader attempt to blend expensive signings with homegrown talent.

Recent history and betting outlook

The two clubs are becoming familiar with one another in pre-season. Just over two years ago, on 15 July 2024, Rosenborg edged United 1-0 in a friendly. A repeat is not guaranteed this time, given the difference between United’s level then and their current upward trajectory.

Looking ahead to Friday’s game, Nasser Eddy points to an intriguing contrast: Rosenborg, on paper the weaker side, arrive with superior match sharpness and an excellent July run, while United bring a star-studded but still-settling squad at the very start of their preparations.

In betting terms, Eddy views a draw – priced at 4.25 – as a realistic outcome. With Rosenborg in prolific form and United boasting significant attacking quality, he expects both teams to score, a scenario offered at odds of 1.52. Based on Rosenborg’s recent scoring averages this month, he even suggests a 2-2 final scoreline, at odds of 11.

He cautions that “Les cotes peuvent evoluer” – the odds are subject to change – but believes the match will offer valuable clues about Rosenborg’s resilience and United’s progress under Carrick as both clubs turn their attention to the season ahead.