Mourinho to continue rebuilding Madrid: prediction for Real vs Fiorentina
The friendly clash between Madrid's Real and Fiorentina is set for August 1 at the Sportpark Klagenfurt Kunststrasen. The Spanish giants continue their pre-season preparations under José Mourinho, while the Italians are already gearing up for their fifth exhibition game this summer.
Real: Mourinho's confident debut and the focus on renewal
Madrid are actively reshaping their squad after two seasons without major silverware. Mourinho's return kicked off with a convincing 4-1 demolition of Leganés, with Franco Mastantuono, Gonzalo García, and Federico Valverde finding the net.
Real finished last season on a high, winning their final three league matches. Over their previous ten games, they lost only to Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and scored at least twice in five of their last six outings.
The friendly nature of this encounter gives the coaching staff a chance to experiment with lineups and test new signings. That could inject more attacking flair into the hosts' play, but it might also make their defense more vulnerable after halftime and with multiple substitutions.
Fiorentina: new coach and a decent summer rhythm
Last season was a real struggle for the Viola. Fiorentina finished just 15th in Serie A with 42 points—only eight clear of the relegation zone.
After the campaign ended, Paolo Vanoli replaced Fabio Grosso, who had signed a two-year contract. Under their new manager, Fiorentina have won three out of four pre-season games, losing only to Queens Park Rangers in a 2-3 thriller.
Fiorentina's last six games have averaged 3.33 goals. The Italians have found an attacking groove and could exploit Madrid's experimental lineup.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Both previous meetings between the sides ended with goals from each team.
- Real have scored at least twice in five of their last six matches.
- Both teams found the net in two of Fiorentina's four pre-season matches.
Open football with little caution: prediction for Real vs Fiorentina
Real are the favorites thanks to their superior quality and strong start under Mourinho. However, with the friendly format, the result isn’t everything—expect plenty of substitutions from Madrid, opening up space for the visitors in the second half.
Fiorentina have already played several tune-up matches and are in a good match rhythm. The Italians can create danger in front of the favorites’ goal, but Real’s attacking firepower makes a goal from the Spaniards the likeliest scenario.
