Manchester United vs Sampdoria: TV channel, stream, kick-off time, odds & match preview

Oliver Platt

Manchester United vs Sampdoria: TV channel, stream, kick-off time, odds & match preview image

Manchester United will play their final pre-season friendly against Sampdoria at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.

The Red Devils beat Valerenga in Oslo on Sunday after completing a tour of the United States and now have a last chance to warm up before their competitive season begins with the UEFA Super Cup next week.

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Serie A side Sampdoria finished 10th in the Italian top flight in 2016-17 but have lost the likes of Luis Muriel, Bruno Fernandes and Milan Skriniar for sizeable fees this summer.

Game Manchester United vs Sampdoria
Date Wednesday, August 2
Time 19:45 (local & BST)

TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM


Jose Mourinho Man Utd

In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on MUTV and by stream via the MUTV app.

UK TV channel Online stream
MUTV MUTV app

In the US, the match will be available to watch live on television on ESPN2 and by stream via WatchESPN or the MUTV app.

US TV channel Online stream
ESPN2 WatchESPN / MUTV app

SQUAD & TEAM NEWS


Position Man Utd players
Goalkeepers De Gea, Romero, J. Pereira
Defenders Darmian, Valencia, Fosu-Mensah, Bailly, Blind, Jones, Lindelof, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Mitchell
Midfielders Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Matic, A. Pereira
Forwards Martial, Lukaku, Rashford

David de Gea, Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard did not travel to Norway for the Valerenga match, with the Englishman apparently suffering from muscle fatigue.

Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof are likely to see time together at centre-back at some point as Eric Bailly is suspended for the Super Cup and Nemanja Matic could make his first appearance since signing from Chelsea.

Potential starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof, Blind; Fellaini, Matic, Pogba; Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford.

Position Sampdoria players
Goalkeepers Puggioni, Tozzo
Defenders Bereszynski, Dodo, Leverbe, Murru, Pavlovic, Regini, Sala, Silvestre, Simic
Midfielders Alvarez, Barreto, Capezzi, Djuricic, Linetty, Praet, Torreira, Verre
Forwards Bonazzoli, Caprari, Kownacki, Quagliarella

Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has been left out of Sampdoria's 23-man squad as he recovers from an injury.

Czech Republic wonderkid Patrick Schick is also in Italy as he was only due to report for pre-season training on Tuesday following the European Under-21 Championship.

Potential starting XI: Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Regini, Murru; Barreto, Torreira, Linetty; Alvarez; Quagliarella, Caprari.


BETTING & MATCH ODDS


Aviva Stadium

United are 1/2 favourites to win, according to dabblebet, with Sampdoria priced at 17/4 the draw available at 14/5.

Click here to view dabblebet's full selection of football markets.


GAME PREVIEW


Romelu Lukaku Man Utd

With one game to play, Manchester United can look back on a fairly successful pre-season as they bid to return to Premier League title contention.

Jose Mourinho has secured three major targets in Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof, strengthening right through the spine of his team.

Though results do not count for much at this stage, United have only lost once - narrowly, to Barcelona - in six games so far and may be slightly ahead of Real Madrid, whose domestic season starts a week later, in terms of fitness when the two clubs meet in the UEFA Super Cup.

Then it is on to a Premier League opener at Old Trafford against West Ham.

United's fixture list looks fairly friendly through the first couple of months; their first match against a potential rival at the top of the table does not come until October 14, when they make the short trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

Before that are seven winnable games that give United a chance to be in a strong early position when they go to Merseyside.

A quick start would be most valuable - particularly in the goalscoring department. United were profligate at times last season and getting the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford up and running early would help to put those psychological demons to bed.

Oliver Platt