Manchester United vs Fiorentina Prediction: Old Trafford says goodbye to De Gea

Manchester United welcome a familiar face to Old Trafford on Saturday (12:45, MUTV) in the form of David De Gea and Fiorentina. The Red Devils have been in the headlines this week with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko reportedly agreeing to join the club. But the Slovenia striker will not arrive in time for this pre-season friendly, with Ruben Amorim’s other attacking options getting a chance to impress.

While there has been a temptation to cast this as the testimonial David De Gea never had, Fiorentina manager Stefano Pioli will not see it that way. A Scudetto winner during his time at AC Milan, the 59-year-old aims to build on a sixth-placed finish in Serie A last term. The well-travelled coach will be looking for his players to use this game as vital preparation. Here are my Manchester United vs Fiorentina predictions ahead of this pre-season pow-wow.

Team News

Sesko may or may not be an official Manchester United player by the time you read this. But Fabrizio Romano, the man who has got more mileage out of a three-word catchphrase than anyone since Bobby Ball, has applied his “Here we go” stardust to the deal. Whether it happens or becomes the latest in a line of misfires that leads the thin-skinned transfer-doyen to argue with his acolytes in the comments remains to be seen.

There are fresh attackers making their Old Trafford bow, however. Matheus Cunha’s transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers feels so long ago you could be forgiven for thinking he whipped the corners in at the Nou Camp in 1999. Bryan Mbeumo’s mini-saga looked like it might go all the way, before United matched Brentford’s valuation. Expect both attackers to get some minutes here.

Somebody who might not be getting minutes is De Gea’s replacement as United number-one, Andre Onana. The Cameroon keeper could perhaps feature briefly, but the Arsenal game next weekend is being publicly targeted for his return. 

Today's Football Fixtures

While all fully fit, do not expect to see Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia or Jadon Sancho on the field against the Italian side. The trio are available for transfer and expected to leave. Lisandro Martinez remains on the shelf with a cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out since February.

Christian Kouame is sidelined for Fiorentina with a cruciate ligament injury of his own, suffered on loan at Empoli earlier this year. Otherwise, Pioli seems to have a full squad to choose from for the new season.

De Gea may not be the only familiar face on the opposing side at Old Trafford. Edin Dzeko haunted the Reds many times during his Manchester City days. The 39-year-old striker spent the last two seasons at Fenerbahce, managed by another ghost of MUFC past in Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United vs Fiorentina Odds

The 20-time English champions are the favourites for this one, though 4/6 is certainly a more slender advantage than they would have had in days past. Fiorentina come in at 10/3 for an implied 23.1% probability of victory. The draw is priced at 11/4.

Football Odds

Man United to win and both teams to score @ 21/10

United have had a mixed time of it this pre-season. Amorim’s army beat West Ham United 2-1 and Bournemouth 4-1, with the latter being the best display of their four games. The other two saw them draw 0-0 with Leeds United and 2-2 with Everton. But they won a cup and got minutes in the legs of both new signings like Cunha and mainstays coming back from injury like Luke Shaw.

Fiorentina racked up a brace of wins on home soil before embarking on a tour of England that has taken in Premier League opposition. Pioli’s Violets lost 2-0 to Leicester City before drawing 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.

Pre-season results are meaningless, but momentum is not. Fiorentina do not play an official game until their Conference League play-off tie on August 21. United are aiming to peak in time to play Arsenal in their Premier League opener next Sunday.

These are two sides at different stages of their preparation. I think United’s match fitness and that slight edge in terms of pre-season results will see them win their final friendly before the new season dawns.

Manchester United to win both halves @ 7/2

During their pre-season games, United scored five goals in the first half of games and conceded just one. The English side played their best football with fresh legs and Amorim’s first XI on the field. When the inevitable friendly shuffling of the deck occurred, United conceded more but were also often home and dry by that point.

I can see that scenario playing out here, which fed into my choice of both teams to score in the previous tip. I reckon that United, more than likely employing the occasionally-creaky Altay Bayindir between the sticks, will find a way to let one in at some point. 

But by that point I think United will have a cohesive first half display behind them. Amorim is still getting a handle on tinkering with his overarching plan later in games. But if pre-season is anything to go by, he seems able to make it work for the first 45 minutes. 

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