In a highly anticipated friendly match set to take place in the early hours of Wednesday, Manchester City will face off against Barcelona in Orlando. Both teams are looking to make a statement ahead of the upcoming season.
Manchester City had a historic campaign last season, winning their fourth consecutive Premier League title. They suffered only two defeats in the league and have established themselves as one of England’s top teams. However, they experienced heartbreak in the FA Cup final, losing 2-1 to bitter rivals Manchester United. Manager Pep Guardiola is urging his superstar squad to bounce back and make a statement in this summer friendly. Despite losing their last two friendly matches, including a thrilling 4-3 defeat against Celtic, City remains a formidable force.
In terms of team news, Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson is included in City’s squad and will be guarding the net. Phil Foden, who represented England in the European Championships, has been given additional time off. Erling Haaland, who has been in fine form during pre-season, will lead City’s attack in Florida.
Barcelona, on the other hand, finished 10 points behind the La Liga champions last season and are undergoing a new era under former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick. They ended the previous campaign on a high note, winning their final four La Liga matches by an aggregate score of 9-1. Barcelona started their pre-season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Olot and will be looking to make a strong statement against City.
In terms of team news, Barcelona is still missing several key players, including Raphinha and Jules Kounde, who will join the squad after this match. Ilkay Gundogan, former Manchester City captain, will not feature as he has been given additional time off. Other players dealing with injuries such as Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and Ansu Fati are not part of Flick’s squad.
When these two teams last met in a friendly match in 2022, they played out an exciting 3-3 draw. Barcelona has lost only one of their previous seven matches against the reigning Premier League champions, including pre-season encounters. Manchester City has had a shaky start to their pre-season, losing their first two matches by a combined score of 7-5. However, they have shown a tendency to score goals, with both teams finding the net in their last four appearances.
In conclusion, this match between Manchester City and Barcelona promises to be an action-packed affair. With their previous friendly encounter ending in a thrilling draw, we can expect plenty of chances and goals in this match. Both teams boast a lineup filled with European superstars, ensuring an exciting contest.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 1/2
Bookmaker: Luckster
