Manchester United defeated Lausanne-Sport 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington, providing a vital opportunity for players to maintain match fitness during the current international break. The match saw the long-awaited introduction of Carlos Baleba to the squad, marking his first appearance since his £70 million summer transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion. An update on Manchester United’s official website described the friendly as his first taste of action for the club. The fixture therefore provided United with an opportunity to work on fitness and sharpness away from the demands of a competitive match. Manchester United handed double injury boost as Carlos Baleba makes debut ahead of Tottenham clash Evening Standard.
Baleba, a 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder, had his start at Old Trafford delayed by an ankle injury sustained late in his time with Brighton. Although he was named as a substitute during the Premier League draw at Fulham, he did not take the field until this friendly contest. Michael Carrick, who previously noted that Baleba provides a necessary balance to the midfield dynamics, utilized this match to integrate him back into the team setup. The Sun’s Danny Rust added that Baleba was heavily involved in midfield as he continued to build his fitness following an ankle problem. Saying last month: “He’s a quality player, that’s why we bought him, carrick had already outlined why United moved for the midfielder. And he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well.”.
Matthijs de Ligt also featured in the starting lineup, taking a significant step forward in his rehabilitation from back surgery performed in May. The defensive reinforcement joined established senior figures such as Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha, who both participated in the training fixture to stay sharp ahead of the return to domestic competition. The squad was rounded out by a selection of academy talents, including Tyler Fredricson and Sekou Kone, who gained valuable experience training alongside the first-team players. Featured image by Dan Mullan/Getty Images.
The opposing side, Lausanne-Sport, shares ownership with United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe but has struggled in the Swiss Super League, entering this match at the bottom of the table with only one win from their first nine fixtures. For the Red Devils, who currently sit 10 points behind league leaders Manchester City, the session served as a tactical exercise to refine fitness and cohesion before the upcoming fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
Upcoming Football Fixtures
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Future Schedule Highlights
- Gnistan vs. Inter Turku: 07/10/2026, 21:30
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Elsewhere in professional football, Al-Nassr’s pursuit of the Saudi League title faced a setback following a costly error by goalkeeper Bento, which prevented a victory and delayed the confirmation of Cristiano Ronaldo’s first trophy in the region. Meanwhile, the Premier League has clarified officiating decisions regarding recent Tottenham Hotspur matches, specifically addressing why a penalty was not awarded to James Maddison during their recent draw against Leeds.
