(3-4-1-2) Victor Gyökeres Debut, Cunha Position Changed: Predicted Man United Line-Up vs Leeds United Friendly Match This Week – As Rúben Amorim Welcomes Martínez Back from Injury
Manchester United are set to kick off their pre-season with a highly anticipated friendly match against Championship side Leeds United this week, and all eyes are on new head coach Rúben Amorim as he oversees his first match in charge. With Victor Gyökeres primed to make his unofficial debut, Matheus Cunha deployed in a new role, and Lisandro Martínez returning from injury, United fans can expect a fresh tactical setup—and potentially a glimpse of the future.
Amorim is reportedly set to trial a 3-4-1-2 formation, a system he favored during his successful time at Sporting CP. That means a new shape, new dynamics, and several position shifts for players who have been used to different systems under Erik ten Hag. The clash against Leeds won’t just be about fitness—it’s a tactical test for the squad’s evolution under a new manager.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the predicted XI, tactical approach, and what fans can expect in this exciting pre-season showdown.
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🔺 Formation: 3-4-1-2
The 3-4-1-2 is a bold but balanced system that allows for fluid transitions, defensive solidity, and possession control through the middle of the pitch. Amorim used this to great effect in Portugal, and with the players now available at Old Trafford, this structure could bring out the best in several key names.
Let’s take a look at the predicted line-up and how each role could function.
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🧤 Goalkeeper: Altay Bayındır
While André Onana is still recovering from international duty and set to return later in the pre-season, Altay Bayındır—who barely featured last season—is expected to get the nod between the posts. The Turkish international has a point to prove, and this friendly provides the perfect stage to show his worth as a capable backup or even challenger.
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🛡️ Centre-backs:
Lisandro Martínez (LCB)
Harry Maguire (CB)
Willy Kambwala (RCB)
The big news here is the return of Lisandro Martínez, who missed most of the second half of the 2024 season due to injury. Now fully fit, he’s expected to slide into the left-sided centre-back role, where his aggressive tackling, ball-playing ability, and leadership are crucial.
Maguire offers experience and aerial dominance in the middle of the back three, while Kambwala—one of United’s most promising young defenders—gets a chance to impress on the right, with Varane now departed and Lindelöf linked with a move away.
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🧱 Wing-backs:
Luke Shaw (LWB)
Diogo Dalot (RWB)
In a 3-4-1-2 system, wing-backs are crucial—and United have two highly capable options in Shaw and Dalot. Shaw, who is returning from injury himself, offers width, overlapping runs, and delivery into the box from the left, while Dalot brings energy, technical skill, and improved final-third awareness on the right.
Expect both players to bomb forward in possession and drop into a five-man backline when defending.
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⚙️ Central Midfield:
Kobbie Mainoo
Mason Mount
Amorim is expected to test a Mainoo-Mount pairing in midfield, with Mainoo acting as the metronome and Mount providing vertical runs and energy. Mainoo has matured well beyond his years and is expected to anchor United’s midfield for years to come. Mount, now fully fit, will be desperate to prove his worth after an underwhelming first season at the club.
Casemiro’s future is uncertain, and with reports linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia or back to Brazil, pre-season could see United experiment with a younger, more agile midfield.
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🎯 Attacking Midfield (No. 10):
Bruno Fernandes
The captain remains the heart of United’s creative output. In this system, Bruno plays behind two strikers, where he’s free to roam, link up with the forwards, and pull strings in the final third. He will also be expected to lead the press, initiate transitions, and create overloads with Dalot on the right.
His connection with both Cunha and Gyökeres will be essential in building chemistry ahead of the new campaign.
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⚔️ Forwards:
Victor Gyökeres (LWF/ST)
Matheus Cunha (CF/SS)
United’s new big-money striker, Victor Gyökeres, is set to make his debut—and fans are buzzing. The Swedish international, who scored 29 goals and added 11 assists for Sporting last season, is a physical, mobile, and technically sound forward who thrives in two-striker systems. His strength and movement will stretch the Leeds defence and allow for fluid link-up play.
Matheus Cunha, normally seen as a striker, is expected to play slightly behind Gyökeres as a second striker or supporting forward. This role plays to his strengths—dribbling, creativity, and quick interchanges in tight spaces. Amorim reportedly sees Cunha more as a connector than a poacher, and this role will allow him to drop into midfield when needed or run beyond the defence when Bruno drops deep.
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🔄 Substitutes to Watch:
Given it’s a pre-season fixture, expect a lot of rotation. Likely substitutes include:
Amad Diallo, looking sharp in training and ready to challenge for a first-team place.
Donny van de Beek, possibly getting one last chance to prove himself.
Alvaro Fernandez, who could be tested at left wing-back.
Dan Gore, the academy midfielder pushing hard for a breakout season.
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📋 Tactical Expectations
With Amorim in charge, expect:
High pressing from the front
Vertical passing through midfield
Wide overloads using wing-backs
Quick ball recoveries in transition
The 3-4-1-2 setup aims to dominate possession while being defensively solid through the centre. With Bruno in the hole, and Gyökeres and Cunha offering different types of movement, United could create plenty of attacking combinations against Leeds’ high defensive line.
Amorim will also use this match to observe how well the team adapts to a new system, and identify areas for reinforcement—especially with United still in the market for another midfielder and central defender.
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🔴 Final Thoughts
As Manchester United prepare to take on Leeds United in this pre-season friendly, the spotlight is firmly on new manager Rúben Amorim and the debut of Victor Gyökeres. With Matheus Cunha being tested in a deeper role, and Lisandro Martínez making his long-awaited return from injury, this match promises to offer early signs of how United might shape up under their new boss.
For fans, it’s not just about the scoreline—it’s about witnessing a new era beginning. A more fluid, pressing-oriented, and tactically modern Manchester United is in the making. If the predicted line-up performs well, the excitement around Old Trafford could hit new heights before the season even begins.
United vs Leeds. Amorim’s debut. Gyökeres unleas
hed. A new formation. Let the revolution begin.
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