Pre-Season Schedules: What Are The Big Boys Upto?
REUTERS/David Gray
It is almost that time of the year again. The season of frolic, mind blowing, breathtaking and non-stop club football is around the corner, and for the football fans, patience is almost out of the window. The players are back with their teams, and the managers are on their toes as they prepare master plans yet again, and the calm before the major storm is in its place.
August will mark the beginning of the footballing seasons throughout Europe, and with a month odd left for proceedings to begin, the phase that they call ‘Pre-Season Tours and Schedules’ is upon us. The clubs will all be warming up for the main bits, as they try to find chemistry and balanced perfection after the transfer window and its consequences.
Here is a look into some of the biggest names in football at the moment, and what their upcoming month looks like:
1. Liverpool
With Mohamed Salah signed and other targets like Kylian Mbappe and Naby Keita being worked on, it is fair to say Jurgen Klopp is building an attack to terrorise defences. This team will begin its pre-season tour with a trip to Asia, and will conclude the schedule with a short visit to Germany.
Pre-Season Schedule:
12th July & 14th July- The two dates see the side visit Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic in their home grounds respectively.
19th July – Crystal Palace – Hong Kong Stadium
22nd July – West Brom/Leicester City – Hong Kong Stadium
After them finishing their Asian tour, Jurgen Klopp takes his squad to Germany, where they play 4 matches before returning to England. This schedule includes them facing giants Bayern Munich in their own backyard.
29th July – Hertha Bsc – Olympiastadion, Berlin.
1st August- Bayern Munich – Allianz Arena, Munich.
2nd August – Atletico Madrid or Napoli – Allianz Arena, Munich.
5th August – Athletic Club- Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
The team begins its Premier League Campaign in Watford, on 8th August.
2. Chelsea
Reuters / John Sibley
Antonio Conte and his side have had a poor transfer window so far, and will be looking to get things into place while they head to the Far East in order to face some of the big names of European Football, and display high quality of the sport to the fans awaiting their presence.
Pre-Season Schedule:
22nd July – Arsenal- Bird’s Nest, Beijing.
25th July – Bayern Munich – National Stadium, Singapore.
29th July – Inter Milan – National Stadium, Singapore.
The London Giants begin their season earlier than most, when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on the 6th of August.
3. Manchester United
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Jose Mourinho’s men face one of the busiest pre-season schedules, with the team lined up to play 7 matches before their big showdown vs Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup that takes place on the 8th of August. The team will be facing opponents of all scales, with even the biggest names involved in their tour of the United States and Europe.
The Red Devils had one of the most hectic seasons last time around, and such a start might be signalling towards the same thing yet again. Romelu Lukaku is about to join Victor Lindelof in the United ranks, and these matches will help them fit in before the main matters begin.
Pre Season Schedule:
15th July – La Galaxy – StubHub Center, Carson
17th July – Real Salt Lake – Rio Tinto Stadium
20th July – Man City – NRG Stadium, Houston
23rd July – Real Madrid – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
26th July – Barcelona – Fedex Field, Landover
30th July – Valerenga – Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
2nd August – Sampdoria – Aviva Stadium
The side will be involved in the International Champions Cup when they play the big trio between 20th-26th July.
4. Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s side face a relatively busy pre-season too, with a lot of travel involved, as the team goes to Australia and China before coming back to London to host the annual Emirates Cup.
Pre-Season Schedule:
13th July – Sydney FC – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
17th July – Western Sydney Wanderers – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
19th July – Bayern Munich – Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai
22nd July – Chelsea – Bird’s Nest, Beijing
29th July – Benfica – Emirates Stadium, London
30th July – Sevilla – Emirates Stadium, London
The team begins its competitive campaign on the 6th of August against Chelsea in a battle for the Community Shield.
5. AC Milan
REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Pre Season Schedule
11th July – Lugano – Stadio Cornaredo, Switzerland.
18th July – Borussia Dortmund – Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
22nd July – Bayern Munich – Longgang Stadium, Shenzhen
6. Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga Champions travel to China for their pre-season friendlies as part of the Audi Summer Tour before taking part in the International Champions Cup in Singapore. They begin their competitive campaign by playing Borussia Dortmund in the Super Cup on the 6th of August.
Pre-Season Schedule:
19th July – Arsenal – Shanghai
22nd July – AC Milan – Shenzhen
25th July – Chelsea – Singapore
27th July – Inter Milan – Singapore
7. Barcelona
REUTERS/Albert Gea
Ernesto Valverde is all set to begin his managerial reign with the La Liga giants this summer, as he takes his team to the United States Of America. The country will be hosting the International Champions Cup as part of a pre-season tour for many teams, and the fans will be witness to the famous El Clasico being held abroad. Their competitive season begins in August, with a match against Chapecoense being the last bit of the warm-up friendlies.
Pre-Season Schedule:
22nd July – Juventus – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
26th July – Manchester United – FedEx Field, Landover
29th July – Real Madrid – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
7th August – Chapecoense – Camp Nou, Barcelona
8. Real Madrid
The current best club in the world will be taking part in the International Champions Cup as part of their pre-season friendlies. Los Blancos’ side will be playing 4 matches before starting a competitive and hectic campaign, in which they will be defending their Champions League and La Liga crowns.
Pre-Season Schedule:
23rd July – Manchester United – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
26th July – Manchester City – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
29th July – Barcelona – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
2nd August – MLS All-Stars – Soldier Field, Chicago
Written by Vikram Gupta 
An attacker with his words, and defends each of them with pride. A love for the game which goes hand in hand with his will to forever write. A graduate in the course of advertising and a hopeful to be author. Herrera for the win.