The Manchester United vs AIK match will be held this Tuesday, August 6, 2013 (10:30 AM Pacific) at the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden. With just two preseason matches left before the start of the regular season, Manchester United is looking to play most key players in a game against one of Sweden’s top teams. One dominating figure missing from the lineup, however, will be 27 year old striker Wayne Rooney.
Rooney is officially off the roster due to a shoulder injury he sustained in a closed-door friendly match against Real Betis this part Saturday. Nonetheless, the true reason might very well be that Rooney is looking to leave Old Trafford, as news of a £30 million offer from Chelsea has spread (Goal.com). Whether Rooney stays or goes is still undecided, but it is looking as though the English striker will finish the preseason without having played a single match.
Most of Manchester United’s key players are set to make an appearance in Stockholm, this is the list of players that will be available against AIK: Lindegaard, Amos, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Smalling, Jones, Evra, Nani, Zaha, Carrick, Anderson, Robin van Persie, Giggs, Henriquez, Shinji Kagawa, Welbeck, and Bebe.
On the other side of the pitch will be AIK, one of the top teams in the Swedish league. AIK is in the middle of its regular season, and sits 2 points behind league leading Helsingborg. AIK is on a four game winning streak, after adding a 2-1 victory this past Saturday over Elfsborg. AIK is set to play again on Sunday against Malmo, the team currently sitting in second place.
Thus, it is unclear whether AIK will use all of its key players for the majority of the match, given that the game against Manchester United is simply a friendly. AIK is in the middle of the season getting ready to face a top league rival, I would expect coach Andreas Alm to use his key players either off the bench or for only a short period of time.
Manchester United vs AIK Prediction
After the Australia and Asia tour, where Manchester United used more of an alternate squad, this match against AIK will have coach Moyes use a near complete team. With just two weeks remaining before the start of the season, we can expect a higher quality game from Manchester United. AIK will likely play with some alternate players and at a lower intensity, they will not want to risk key players on a friendly match, while they are in the middle of their season. Look for Manchester United to dominate and take the victory. The Manchester United vs AIK match will end in a 2-1 win for the English side.
Manchester United vs AIK TV Schedule
The Manchester United vs AIK match will be televised this Tuesday, August 6, 2013 on MUTV at 10:30 AM Pacific.
