Rosenborg vs Man Utd Prediction: Will Carrick’s way work in Norway?

Manchester United travel to Lerkendal Stadion in Norway as they take on Rosenborg (5pm UK, MUTV). The match will provide manager Michael Carrick with a chance to blood some youngsters, as well as offering another look at new signing Andrey Santos.

Read on for my Rosenborg vs Manchester United predictions ahead of this pre-season tie.

Team News

United’s side will be a mixture of first-teamers who didn’t play at the World Cup and youth talent who Carrick is assessing ahead of the new season.

One member of the latter category who is causing ripples of optimism among the Red Devils fanbase is JJ Gabriel. Still only 15 years of age, the electrifying forward has turned heads in the United youth and reserve set-ups. A big factor in his team reaching the FA Youth Cup last term, the future looks bright for the boy.

Football Odds

Another standout at age group and reserve level is Jim Thwaites. A composed and authoritative midfield presence, it will be interesting to see how the 18-year-old integrates. The summer spending on Santos and Youri Tielemans, who misses out due to his post-World Cup recovery period, could limit Thwaites’ opportunities. But with a third midfielder not yet signed and Manuel Ugarte out injured, perhaps his tempo-setting central presence will grace the odd first team outing.

Among the familiar faces included in the United squad are Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw, who were not picked for England’s World Cup campaign along with Bryan Mbeumo, whose Cameroon team failed to qualify. Meanwhile, new signing Karl Darlow misses out through injury.

Rosenborg, who are in the thick of their league season, may opt to rotate. Their only injury concern is striker Dino Islamovic, who faces a late fitness test. 

Rosenborg vs Manchester United Odds

Unsurprisingly, the English visitors are favourites. The Red Devils are priced at 1/2 to win as we go to press. Rosenborg are backed at 4/1 while the draw is marketed at 7/2.

Manchester United to win and both teams to score @ 13/10

As they found out in their 1-0 loss to Wrexham in their pre-season opener, United’s need to rotate could trip them up here. Carrick named a new XI at half time in that fixture. Similar wholesale changes will open the door for a Rosenborg goal I feel.

But lessons will have been learned from the defeat to Wrexham in Finland. With a few more of United’s first-choice players available and with their first game under their belts collectively, I’m backing United to do enough here.

Manchester United win and over 2.5 total goals @ 4/5

The maths-adept among you will notice that for both teams to score, as I’ve tipped above, then you’ve landed on two goal already. With one side, in this case Manchester United, tipped to win you must have an odd goal. Thus, United to win and over 2.5 total goals fits my game prediction perfectly.

I did think of going higher, but with Benjamin Sesko working his way back to fitness and Joshua Zirkzee turning out to be quite the enigma, I’ve kept it cautious.

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