{"id":329754,"date":"2025-08-09T05:28:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T05:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/329754\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T05:28:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T05:28:18","slug":"manchester-united-predicted-line-up-vs-fiorentina-as-defensive-call-made-and-mbeumo-starts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/329754\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United predicted line-up vs Fiorentina as defensive call made and Mbeumo starts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Man United take on Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly of the summer at Old Trafford on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"AuthorBio_bio-text__yt_tm\">George is a Senior Football Writer for the Manchester Evening News, mostly covering Manchester United. He previously worked for football.london before joining the MEN team in July 2021. As well as covering United, George is a Championship-enthusiast and co-hosts The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24), which you can find on all major podcast platforms.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2227737541.jpg\" alt=\"Bryan Mbeumo in action for Manchester United against Everton.\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Bryan Mbeumo will be eyeing a first appearance at Old Trafford.(Image: Peter Joneleit\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Manchester United will be eyeing a winning conclusion to their pre-season schedule when they face Fiorentina at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester-united-fc\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"UnitedLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">United<\/a> returned to home soil earlier this week after a successful tour of the United States saw them win the Premier League Summer Series. They beat West Ham United (2-1) and Bournemouth (4-1) before drawing 2-2 with Everton to win the tournament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Head coach <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/ruben-amorim\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ruben AmorimLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Ruben Amorim<\/a> was able to take plenty of positives from his side&#8217;s performances, with several individuals producing a crop of eye-catching displays.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">With the visit of Fiorentina marking United&#8217;s final dress rehearsal ahead of next Sunday&#8217;s season opener against Arsenal, there is a high probability the Portuguese chief will deploy as close a starting XI to the one he has in mind for the season curtain-raiser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">With the visit of the Serie A club poised to come too soon for goalkeeper Andre Onana to return from his hamstring injury, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/altay-bayindir\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Altay BayindirLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Altay Bayindir<\/a> could chalk up his fourth start of pre-season. Despite uncertainties over his future, he remains United&#8217;s second-choice goalkeeper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Leny Yoro was a strong performer throughout the tour of the US and is a shoo-in at right-sided centre-back. Ayden Heaven could reclaim the left-sided centre-back spot from Luke Shaw.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">In the middle of the back-three, Matthijs de Ligt and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/harry-maguire\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Harry MaguireLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Harry Maguire<\/a> have been fighting tooth and nail to earn that spot ahead of the start of the season. After starting the draw with Everton on the bench, the latter could bag a start for this one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/amad-diallo\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"AmadLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Amad<\/a> and Patrick Dorgu are the obvious picks in the wing-back department and deserve to start. Dorgu has enjoyed a really strong pre-season campaign thus far and even chipped in with a goal in the win over Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Bruno Fernandes has flittered between the centre of midfield and the No.10 positions this summer, but he is increasingly likely to start the campaign in the engine room, meaning he could start in midfield for this one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">There is a sense of strong competition to partner him, and Manuel Ugarte could get the nod to offer a sense of defensive nous. Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro may have to settle for places on the bench.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">In attack, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/bryan-mbeumo\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Bryan MbeumoLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Bryan Mbeumo<\/a> will be eyeing another start after storing 45 minutes under his belt against Everton in Atlanta last Sunday night. Matheus Cunha is expected to start as the other No.10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Benjamin Sesko is not officially a United player just yet, meaning Rasmus Hojlund could return to the starting XI and lead the attack.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_MUFC-Predicted-XI.png\" alt=\"A Manchester United predicted XI displayed on a football pitch graphic with Old Trafford in the background.&#10;&#10;The XI is as follows:&#10;&#10;GK: Bayindir&#10;CB: Yoro&#10;CB: Maguire&#10;CB: Heaven&#10;RWB: Amad&#10;CM: Ugarte&#10;CM: Fernandes&#10;LWB: Dorgu&#10;CAM: Mbeumo&#10;CAM: Cunha&#10;ST: Hojlund\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>How Manchester United could line up against Fiorentina.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">United predicted XI vs Fiorentina: <\/strong>Bayindir; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven; Amad, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Hojlund.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_manchester-united-pre-season-guide-2025-26-4863-1-p.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>KICK OFF &#8211; Man United pre-season guide 2025\/26<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">The countdown is on to the 2025\/26 Premier League campaign &#8211; and our <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/football-pre-season-guides-202526-75-c.asp?utm_source=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025-Reachwide&amp;utm_medium=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025-Reachwide-Factbox&amp;utm_campaign=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025&amp;utm_id=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">pre-season guide<\/a> is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory &#8211; or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Also full fixtures guide so you don&#8217;t miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\">Get your copy <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/football-pre-season-guides-202526-75-c.asp?utm_source=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025-Reachwide&amp;utm_medium=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025-Reachwide-Factbox&amp;utm_campaign=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025&amp;utm_id=EPL+Pre+Seasons+2025\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">NOW<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Man United take on Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly of the summer at Old Trafford on Saturday.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":329755,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,4884,2465,423,11507,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-329754","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-manchester","12":"tag-manchester-united-fc","13":"tag-manchester-united-fixtures","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114997160125482557","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=329754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329754\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/329755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=329754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=329754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=329754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}