Summer signings on show
Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez both featured in Manchester United's behind-closed-doors friendly in midweek, but this weekend will see them make their first official appearances for the side.
Eriksen, 30, netted a free-kick in that match against Wrexham at Carrington, and Martinez got a run-out just one hour after his transfer from Ajax was formally announced.
Both of them were given a half of football to help bring them up to speed ahead of the first real test this weekend, and the duo will be desperate to take their chance and force their way into the line-up for the Premier League opener against Brighton.
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Ten Hag could confirm his strongest XI
With a double-header this weekend, Erik ten Hag is expected to name his strongest side for the friendly against Atletico Madrid before using the match against Rayo Vallecano as a platform to give players in need of minutes a runout.
It means that by the time the team news drops on Saturday afternoon, we might already have an indication of how United plan to line up for their season opener next weekend.
Ten Hag seems to have settled upon a pretty solid starting line-up over pre-season, but there are still positions up for grabs in defence and midfield, selections that are further complicated by the two recent summer signings.
Diego Simeone's side should offer the toughest test of the summer schedule so far, and Ten Hag will want his strongest XI to use the match as a benchmark for the standards that need to be reached straight away in the new campaign.
First-team promotions
One of the most encouraging aspects of the recent pre-season tour was the chances given to United's latest crop of promising youngsters, with Zidane Iqbal and Charlie Savage both seizing their opportunities in the senior set-up.
The two young midfielders have attracted loan interest this summer, but Ten Hag and his coaches wanted them to gain priceless first-team experience instead.
Iqbal and Savage will benefit hugely from everything they have learned this summer, and it will be fascinating to see what capacity, if any, they are utilised in this weekend. Involvement at the Ullevaal Stadion would all but confirm their new senior squad roles.
Still the hottest ticket in town
United might arrive in Oslo on the back of their worst ever Premier League season, during which national hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, but that hasn't detracted from the support for the club.
In fact, Manchester United Supporters' Club Scandinavia has broken their membership record heading into Ten Hag's first season, with United fans just as passionate as ever about watching their team in action.
Liverpool are the other best-supported side in the country and interest in Manchester City will grow following the signing of Erling Haaland. Those two teams face off in the Community Shield on Saturday evening, but before then, United will be taking centre stage in Norway.
Fan mood on Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo laughed at the Atletico Madrid fans' protest against his possible signing earlier in the week, and he might have another to respond to this weekend.
The Portuguese is not expected to be involved in the match in Oslo, but his uncertain future will no doubt be another talking point after another week in which he made clear his desire to leave the club.
Atletico fans have made it clear they don't want the Portuguese at their club, and after the way his saga has been handled, there might be some United supporters who feel the same way about their star striker.
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