On Friday evening, Wayne Rooney's tenure as head coach of Plymouth Argyle officially begins with a friendly match against South African side Orlando Pirates in Marbella.
Plymouth Argyle, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, have been busy during the summer, making several signings and preparing for their upcoming Championship campaign. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates, the Nedbank Cup winners, are on a three-match tour in Spain, including this fixture.
Team News
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth finished 21st in the Championship last season, surviving by a single point.
With new head coach Wayne Rooney at the helm, the team aims to improve their standing. Rooney has brought in Nathanael Ogbeta, Darko Gyabi, Ibrahim Cissoko, and Muhamed Tijani to strengthen the squad.
Key player Morgan Whittaker, who scored 19 goals last season, remains with the team despite transfer rumors.
Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates recently won the Nedbank Cup for the 10th time and finished second in South Africa's top flight.
Under head coach Jose Riveiro, the team has added Thalente Mbatha, Gilberto, and Bayanda Thabethe to their squad.
The team is expected to have a fresh look, with several players making their debuts during this tour.
Prediction
This friendly match is set to be a competitive encounter as both teams look to fine-tune their strategies ahead of their respective seasons.
Plymouth Argyle, under new management and eager to start strong, might have the edge.
We predict a 2-1 victory for Plymouth, giving Rooney a winning start to his tenure.
Plymouth 
Orlando 
