11 Spanish clubs to take on English opposition in preseason clashes

With the return of club football just three weeks away and teams across Europe ramping up their preparations for the new season, a host of English clubs are looking to Spain’s La Liga to provide their sides with top level opposition as they look to hit the ground running come the start of the new campaign.

11 English clubs (Seven from the Premier League and four from the Championship) and 11 Spanish clubs (Nine from La Liga and two from Segunda) will be facing off against each other in an eye-catching slate of pre-season friendlies between 30^th July and 10^th August.

These fixtures will showcase the depth of talent playing in both leagues and show English fans what Spanish football has to offer before the La Liga season kicks-off on Friday 15^th August.

High profile La Liga players will be competing on English soil, with fans potentially able to watch the likes of Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, Real Betis’ Isco, and Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal, as well as enjoy the return of a host of former Premier League stars including Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, Julian Alvarez, Clement Lenglet, and Real Betis’ Hector Bellerin.

Some of these pre-season fixtures mark the first-ever meetings between the clubs, showcasing the increased collaboration between English and Spanish clubs. Other encounters mark the potential first meeting between them this season, as clubs await the draw for this season’s European competitions. Key pre-season fixtures include:

• Premier League holders Liverpool vs Basque side Athletic Club at Anfield, a double-header at Anfield on the 4^th August.

• Premier League runners up Arsenal will also play Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup at Emirates Stadium on 9^th August, as well fellow Champions League qualifiers Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium on the 6^th August.

• Two more of this season’s Champions League contestants, Newcastle and Atletico Madrid, will face each other in the SELA Cup at St James’ Park on the 9^th August.

The full fixture list for pre-season between 30^th July and 9^th August is as follows:

30^th July:

2^nd August:

3^rd August:

4^th August:

6^th August:

8^th August:

9^th August:

• Newcastle vs Atlético de Madrid

• Wolves vs RC Celta

• Bournemouth vs Real Sociedad

• Bournemouth vs Real Sociedad B

• Arsenal vs Athletic Club

10^th August:

Tickets for the games are already on sale now and can be found on club websites.

Keegan Pierce, Director of International Relations, LALIGA

“Football is deeply ingrained in the cultures of both England and Spain, and it is always a great occasion when clubs from the two countries face each other. As we look ahead to the new season, these pre-season fixtures are a brilliant opportunity for English fans to see the remarkable breadth and depth of talent in La Liga and to bring both existing and new fans closer to our league.”