18th October 2003. Roy Keane's late header from a Gary Neville cross sees Manchester United beat Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road. The first player to join Keane in the celebrations? Cristiano Ronaldo - having joined the club that summer.
Little did the travelling contingent know that it would be 18 years before their side next set foot at Elland Road in the Premier League, and another year before they would be back in the away end in West Yorkshire. In that time, Ronaldo remained at United for five further seasons, spent nine years at Real Madrid and three at Juventus. Five Ballon d'Ors later, he is back at United to face Leeds once again.
There wasn't even a hint that Ronaldo would be back in a United shirt until near enough three weeks on from the sides' opening day meeting at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, it was a day filled with a sense of genuine hope. Even before events on the field were underway, the returning full capacity crowd greeted the on-field unveiling of Raphael Varane with an almighty ovation that almost seemed to act as a catalyst for what was to unfold. Varane wasn't registered to play and Jadon Sancho only made the bench after his summer switch, but United still thrived off the energy of the home support to put five past Illan Meslier.
Varane is available this time around as United's venture to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, overcoming stomach problems that saw him sidelined at late notice against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek. Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani's continued absence with a groin problem, compounded by stomach issues, almost guarantees another start for Ronaldo. It is similarly difficult to envisage the dropping of Sancho - in the richest vein of form of his United career to date.
With midfield options also somewhat shortened still given Nemanja Matic is unlikely to return straight to the fray after recent injury, and Fred having only recently returned after his bout of Covid, there is a chance that Paul Pogba could be reintroduced after starting on the bench against Brighton following three straight starts. Back in August, Pogba provided four assists in United's 5-1 victory over Leeds. Ralf Rangnick has said that it's not necessary to make changes to the lineup for physical purposes due to five days of recuperation, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of making alterations to the side that won in midweek.
The victory against Brighton on Tuesday was United's first win since the winter break following three successive regulation time 1-1 draws, with David de Gea keeping only his sixth clean sheet of the season and United scoring twice after four consecutive single-goal hauls. The win against Brighton left United inside the top four and leading the race for Champions League football, a position which they are guaranteed to keep no matter the result against Leeds. However, varying games in hand tallies render the position far from the realms of security, even if United are in theoretical pole position given predicaments elsewhere.
Leeds, by contrast, are on the verge of being engaged in a battle at the rear end of the table. Having finished ninth on their return to the top-flight last term, Marcelo Bielsa's side have somewhat suffered from the weight of expectation. The relegation zone looms five points below Leeds' 15th place, though with a game in hand on 18th place Watford and three games less played than Brentford one point above after Saturday's fixtures.
Leeds will have a watchful eye on high-flying outfits such as Newcastle - now six league matches unbeaten - below them. Bielsa's men have only picked up one point in three matches since beating West Ham 3-2 at the London Stadium, losing against Newcastle and, last weekend, 3-0 to Everton - both below them in the standings. Leeds have lost five of their last eight league matches, hindered by the continued absences of both Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford.
Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas are also likely to miss out on Sunday. Daniel James has cemented his place as a starter for Leeds since joining from United late in the summer window - he started for, at the time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in August.
On top of their five-goal haul on the opening day of this current campaign, United put six past Leeds last season at Old Trafford. After 23 matches played for Leeds, only Norwich have conceded more goals in the Premier League this season, with 26 conceded in their last nine matches. However, it was a stalemate at Elland Road as the sides clashed last April.
Bruno Fernandes, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, has spoken of his fondness for atmospheres like the one that will be on show at Elland Road come Sunday. "I like when everything is against you," he said. "It makes you give a little bit more."
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