Real Madrid Clash With Fiorentina: Bold Predictions, Key Lineups, and What to Expect

Real Madrid are taking their preseason preparations on the road, heading into the heart of central Europe for the next stage of their summer schedule. Fiorentina stand in their way in Austria this Saturday.

Los Blancos have already dispatched Alcorcón and Leganés with differing levels of comfort, with the latter on the receiving end of a 4–1 defeat in Madrid's most recent match. Federico Valverde, whose Uruguay side was among the biggest letdowns of the 2026 World Cup, netted a brace in that win.

José Mourinho is bringing a comparable squad to Austria, with Madrid's World Cup players expected to return ahead of the La Liga season opener. Several enjoyed lengthy runs at the tournament, including new arrival Marc Cucurella.

Fiorentina have already made a stop in London this summer, taking on two EFL Championship sides during their tour of the English capital. After a 3–2 defeat to QPR, La Viola wrapped up their trip on a positive note by edging out Watford 1–0.

Having flirted with the drop last season before steadying the ship in the closing stages, Fiorentina will be eager to push back toward the upper half of the Serie A standings in 2026–27. They parted company with boss Paolo Vanoli in June and brought in Fabio Grosso, whose managerial track record had been fairly modest before guiding Sassuolo back to the top flight last season.

Real Madrid vs. Fiorentina Score Prediction

Madrid Tested By Rejuvenated Viola

This is a matchup that rarely takes place. You'd need to go all the way back to the 1957 European Cup final to find the one and only previous meeting between these two clubs. Madrid, dominant across Europe at the time, claimed a 2–0 victory in front of an estimated 124,000 spectators at the Bernabéu.

That era represented Fiorentina's golden age, with success becoming far more sporadic in the years since. Yet for one of Italy's most storied clubs, they've been remarkably short on silverware this century — their last trophy being the 2000–01 Coppa Italia.

Last season was a significant underachievement, and those at the helm in Florence must believe the squad available to Grosso is capable of pushing back toward the top half of the table. The club reached the UEFA Conference League final in consecutive seasons under Vincenzo Italiano, before the switch to Stefano Pioli proved to be a costly mistake.

Their early preseason start makes this a solid test for Madrid, who are gradually building up their fitness without many of their high-profile names available.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2–1 Fiorentina

Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Fiorentina

Mourinho has named a 21-man squad for Saturday's friendly, which includes latest signing Carlos Espí, who effectively comes in as a replacement for Gonzalo García.

The imposing Espí found the net 11 times in La Liga for Levante last season and has only recently celebrated his 21st birthday.

While most of Madrid's World Cup players are still on their break, Federico Valverde and Arda Güler will both be in action in Austria. Dutch international Denzel Dumfries, who arrived from Inter Milan earlier this month, is also included in the squad.

Raúl Asencio is sidelined and reportedly out of the new manager's plans, while Éder Militão and Thibaut Courtois are both dealing with fitness issues. Madrid will be hoping to welcome Rodrygo back before the year is out.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Martínez, Huijsen, Carreras; Cestero, Camavinga; Valverde, Güler, Yáñez; Espí.

Fiorentina Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid

Croatian international Marin Pongrančić sat out the brief England tour following the World Cup, but is expected to link up with his teammates before Fiorentina head back to Florence. He could feature on Saturday, most likely as a substitute.

Fiorentina are set to field former Premier League defenders Álex Jiménez and Radu Drăgușin in their starting eleven, with ex-Everton forward Moise Kean leading the attack.

Roberto Piccoli, who managed just four Serie A goals last season, is expected to lead the line for the Italian side, with Nicolò Fagioli one to keep an eye on in the middle of the park. He was crowned Serie A's U23 Player of the Season in 2022–23, though his progress was hampered by a gambling-related suspension.

Fiorentina predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Jiménez, Drăgușin, Ranieri, Fortini; Mandragora, Atta, Fagioli; Kean, Piccoli, Gudmundsson.

What Time Does Real Madrid vs. Fiorentina Kick Off?

How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Fiorentina on TV, Live Stream

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