Juan Mata scored the winner as Manchester United claimed a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria in Dublin.
In a game that will be remembered for Nemanja Matic making his first United appearance, Jose Mourinho's side took the lead inside nine minutes thanks to Henrikh Mkhitaryan's third goal of pre-season.
United controlled large parts of the friendly at the Aviva Stadium but were made to work for the victory as Dennis Praet's 63rd-minute strike set up a tense finale.
But substitute Mata made the workout worthwhile with the decisive strike nine minutes from time as United signed off their preparations for the new campaign with a sixth win from seven.
Manchester United are second-favourites at 100/30 in Sky Bet's Premier League outright odds (the online bookmaker are paying three places instead of two on each-way bets).
After what's been a heartening pre-season campaign, United made an uncharacteristically nervy start in the Irish capital as Daley Blind's wayward backpass draw a desperate save from David de Gea, handing Sampdoria an indirect free-kick six yards from goal.
But after the Serie A club's route to goal was blocked, United sprung on the counter as Antonio Valencia's cross-field pass released Matteo Darmian, and his inch-perfect cross set up Mkhitaryan for a devastating breakaway goal.
After Fabio Quagliarella's looping effort had drifted wide, Mkhitaryan should have doubled his tally on 22 minutes, but his header from Valencia's cross was well saved by Sampdoria stopper Christian Puggioni.
Two minutes later, Romelu Lukaku's curling effort whistled inches wide before Andreas Pereira lashed a long-range effort over.
Valencia set up Mkhitaryan with another chance to extend United's lead on 36 minutes but the Armenian glanced a header wide.
It was not all plain sailing for United as Sampdoria ended the half strongly, Victor Lindelof's deflection before half-time going close to levelling the contest.
Four changes at the break halted the momentum of Mourinho's men but two of the substitutes looked to have overcome that as Marouane Fellaini's chest down set up Ander Herrera for United's second on 62 minutes.
However, the goal was ruled out for offside - and a minute later Praet was found in space on the edge of the area to stroke home the equaliser.
Anthony Martial came off the bench as United pushed for a winner, the Frenchman's cross setting up Herrera whose header was saved by Puggioni on 80 minutes.
Martial set up the winner, rolling the ball into path of Mata and the Spaniard sent a shot low into the bottom left-hand corner.
