Prediction: Manchester City vs Barcelona

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster

In what promises to be a heavyweight friendly showdown in the early hours of Wednesday, Manchester City and Barcelona will meet in Orlando.

Manchester City

Starting with Manchester City, making real history last season as they got their hands on a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title, the Sky Blues are looking once again establish themselves as England’s elite. Suffering just a pair of top-flight defeats last season, Pep Guardiola’s men have continued to gain a fearsome reputation from across the continent. However, suffering FA Cup final heartbreak on May 25th as they fell to a 2-1 loss at the hands of bitter local rivals Manchester United, the former Barcelona boss is calling on his superstar squad to make a summer statement here. Getting their pre-season preparations underway with an action-packed 4-3 defeat against Scottish heavyweights Celtic, Man City have lost back-to-back friendly showdowns over the past week.

Team News

While there might be constant speculation around a big-money move to the Middle East this summer, Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson has been included in City’s squad and will feature between the sticks. Featuring for England’s at this summer’s European Championships, Phil Foden has been given additional time off.

Finding the net in back-to-back friendly matchups over the past week and claiming another Premier League Golden Boot last season, Erling Haaland will spearhead Guardiola’s charge in Florida.

Barcelona

As for Barcelona, eventually finishing 10 points adrift of defending their La Liga crown last season, the Spanish giants are getting a new era underway this summer. Turning to former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick last month, the Spanish icons have plenty of pressure on their shoulders. However, while arch-rivals Real Madrid might have breezed past them last season, they did sign off the 2023/24 campaign with a real flurry. Including a 2-1 victory away at Sevilla on the final weekend, Barca won all of their final four La Liga showdowns by an aggregate score 9-1. Getting their pre-season preparations underway with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Olot last week, Flick’s new squad will be looking to make a heavyweight statement here.

Team News

Still missing a handful of their first-team superstars, Raphinha and Jules Kounde will join up with the Barcelona squad after this game. Likewise, not travelling over to the United States this summer and handed additional time off, former Manchester City skipper Ilkay Gundogan will not feature in Florida.

All still dealing with respective injury issues, the likes of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and former Brighton loanee Ansu Fati have stayed in Catalonia and are not part of Flick’s squad.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Manchester City and Barcelona last met for a friendly matchup back in the summer of 2022, the European giants played out a 3-3 stalemate.
• Including their pre-season battles, Barca have lost just one of their previous seven showdowns against the reigning Premier League champions.
• Man City have lost their first two pre-season appearances this summer by an aggregate score of 7-5.
• Barcelona won all of their final four La Liga matchups last season by an aggregate score of 9-1.
• All of Manchester City’s last four appearances have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

In a showdown between two European icons, we should be set for an action-packed affair from Florida. With Manchester City and Barcelona playing out a thrilling 3-3 stalemate when they last met for a friendly showdown back in the summer of 2022, chances should come thick and fast in the early hours of Wednesday. Two camps who are littered with European superstars, we are expecting an action-packed contest here.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster