Manchester United vs Bournemouth – Friendly
Current Form & Context
Manchester United
Mixed preseason results (W3 D1 L1), including a 2-1 win over West Ham and a 0-0 draw with Leeds. Scoring 1.4 goals per game but conceding in 60% of matches. Key absences: GK André Onana (injured) and new signing Bryan Mbeumo (not yet debuted) .
Bournemouth
Dominant preseason (W4 L1), scoring 14 goals in 5 games (2.8/game). Highlights include a 3-0 win over Everton and 6-2 thrashing of Bristol City. Unbeaten in 12 competitive games under Iraola, with high-pressing tactics causing problems for top sides .
Tactical Breakdown
1. Expected Setups
Man Utd (3-4-3)
- GK: Bayındır (Onana out).
- Defence: Maguire (RCB), Yoro (CB), MartÃnez (LCB) – covering Solanke’s physicality.
- Midfield: Dalot (RWB), Casemiro-Mainoo (pivot), Shaw (LWB).
- Attack: Fernandes (RW), Højlund (ST), Garnacho (LW).
- Weakness: Slow transitions; vulnerable to counters behind wing-backs .
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):
- High Press: Target United’s build-up, especially Casemiro/Maguire.
- Attack: Solanke (ST) supported by Semenyo (RW) and Tavernier (LW). Christie/Cook double pivot to disrupt Bruno .
2. Key Battles
- Bruno Fernandes vs Cook/Christie: Bournemouth’s pivots aim to cut passing lanes. If successful, United rely on McTominay’s late runs .
- Solanke vs Maguire: Solanke’s movement vs Maguire’s aerial weakness. Bournemouth’s set-piece threat (80% goal rate in last 5) .
- Wing-Backs vs Bournemouth’s Wide Forwards: Garnacho/Shaw must track Semenyo’s cuts inside, leaving space for overlapping full-backs .
3. Game Deciders
- United Wins If: Exploit Bournemouth’s high line with Højlund’s runs; dominate midfield via Mainoo-Casemiro; defend set-pieces.
- Bournemouth Wins If: Force turnovers in United’s half (as in Dec 2023’s 3-0 win); isolate CBs 1v1; capitalize on Solanke’s form .
Prediction
Score Prediction: 2-2 Draw. Bournemouth’s press disrupts United’s build-up, but individual quality (Fernandes, Højlund) rescues a draw.
